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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration No. 333-1777585

 

 

 

 

2,912,860 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

XCEL BRANDS, INC.

 

This prospectus relates to the resale by selling security holders of 2,912,860 shares of our common stock, $0.001 par value, including (1) 2,308,132 shares of our common stock, (2) 230,500 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by the selling security holders (the “Investor Warrants”), (3) 364,428 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by the lenders under a credit facility as described herein (the “Lender Warrants”) and (4) 9,800 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by our placement agent (the “Placement Agent Warrants” and together with the Investor Warrants and Lender Warrants, the “Warrants”).

 

We are not selling any shares of our common stock and, as a result, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common stock covered by this prospectus other than proceeds in the event that some or all of the Warrants held by the selling security holders are exercised for cash.  All of the net proceeds from the sale of our common stock will go to the selling security holders.

 

The common stock may be sold directly or through agents or broker-dealers acting as agents on behalf of the selling security holders. The selling security holders may engage brokers, dealers or agents who may receive commissions or discounts from the selling security holders. We will pay all the expenses incident to the registration of the shares; however, we will not pay for sales commissions or other expenses applicable to the sale of our common stock registered hereunder.

 

Our common stock is quoted on the OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets under the symbol “XELB”. The last reportable trade of our common stock was $2.56 per share on April 5, 2012. The initial public offering price for the common stock will be $3.00 per share until the shares of common stock are quoted on a national securities exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board at which time the shares of common stock will be sold at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. There can be no assurance our common stock will be quoted on a national securities exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 to read about factors you should consider before investing in shares of our common stock.

 

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”) NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.  

 

  The Date of This Prospectus is: July 5, 2012  

 

 
 

   

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    PAGE
Prospectus Summary   1
Risk Factors   4
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements   17
Use of Proceeds   17
Determination of Offering Price   18
Dilution   18
Description of Business   18
Legal Proceedings   31
Management Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operations   31
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   43
Selling Security Holders   43
Plan of Distribution   45
Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters   47
Description of Securities   50
Directors and Executive Officers   51
Executive Compensation   62
Principal Stockholders   65
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions   67
Financial Statements   F-1
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution   II-1
Indemnification of Directors and Officers   II-1
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities   II-2
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules   II-4
Undertakings   II-5

 

Please read this prospectus carefully. It describes our business, our financial condition and results of operations. We have prepared this prospectus so that you will have the information necessary to make an informed investment decision.

 

You should rely only on information contained in this prospectus.  We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information.  This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it seeking an offer to buy, these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.  The information in this prospectus is complete and accurate as of the date on the front cover, but the information may have changed since that date.

 

 
 

 

USE OF CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

 

Except as otherwise indicated by the context, references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company” are to the combined business of XCel Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, IM Brands, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which is also referred to herein as “IM Brands.”

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus.  This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in the common stock.  You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including “Risk Factors”, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Financial Statements, before making an investment decision. 

 

The Company

 

General

 

Our primary business is the design, licensing and marketing of the Isaac Mizrahi trademarks and brands including “Isaac Mizrahi New York”, “Isaac Mizrahi”, “Isaac Mizrahi Jeans”, “M.” and “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” (the “Isaac Mizrahi Brands”) and the design business related to the Liz Claiborne New York brand (the “LCNY Brand”). Our focus is on licensing our owned brands for promotion and distribution through an Omnichannel retail sales strategy including distribution through Direct-Response Television (i.e. QVC), the Internet, and traditional bricks-and-mortar retail channels. We operate in a “working capital light” business model, licensing the Isaac Mizrahi Brands through our wholly-owned subsidiary IM Brands, LLC and generating royalty and design revenues through licensing and other agreements with wholesale manufacturers, sourcing and design companies, and retailers. We do not currently plan to manufacture products, or open bricks-and-mortar retail stores. By partnering with licensing partners who have significant expertise in designing, sourcing, and selling products through wholesale and retail distribution channels, we are able to focus on licensing our brands, providing design direction and in certain cases, product designs to our licensees, coordinating merchandising among our licensees, and marketing through social media marketing and other conventional means (advertising, public relations). This model minimizes the need for us to spend significant amounts in capital expenditures or inventory purchases related to our brands. Our primary focus is on growing our revenues related to the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and LCNY Brand, but in the future may acquire and/or enter into licensing or other business arrangements with other brands in order to leverage our licensing, design, and/or marketing expertise to grow our revenues through our Omnichannel retail sales strategy.

 

Corporate History

 

We were incorporated on August 31, 1989 in the State of Delaware under the name Houston Operating Company.   On April 19, 2005, we changed our name to NetFabric Holdings, Inc. On September 28, 2011, we filed an amendment to our certificate of incorporation and effected a 1 for 520.5479607 reverse stock split (the “Reverse Split”).

 

On September 29, 2011, we entered into an Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) with XCel Brands, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation (“Old XCel”), Netfabric Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Acquisition Corp.”), and certain of our stockholders pursuant to which Acquisition Corp. was merged with and into Old XCel, with Old XCel surviving as our wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Merger”).  Pursuant to the Merger, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Old XCel in exchange for issuing an aggregate of 944,688 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) to Old XCel’s stockholders at a ratio of 9,446.88 shares of Common Stock for each share of Old XCel common stock outstanding at the effective time of the Merger. Immediately following the Merger, Old Xcel was merged with and into the Company (the “Short Form Merger”), and we changed our name to Xcel Brands, Inc.  As a result of the Short Form Merger, IM Brands, LLC (“IM Brands”), which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Old XCel, became our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

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Old Xcel was incorporated in Delaware on September 23, 2010 for the purpose of acquiring the Isaac Mizrahi Business.  On May 19, 2011, Old XCel and IM Brands (collectively, the  “Buyers”) entered into an asset purchase agreement, as amended (the “Purchase Agreement”), with IM Ready-Made, LLC (“IM Ready”), Isaac Mizrahi and Marisa Gardini, pursuant to which the Buyers acquired certain assets of IM Ready, including (i) the “Isaac Mizrahi” brands (including the trademarks and brands “Isaac Mizrahi New York”, “Isaac Mizrahi” and “IsaacMizrahiLIVE”) (collectively, the “IM Trademarks”), (ii) the license agreements between IM Ready and certain third parties related to the IM Trademarks including a license agreement with QVC, Inc. (“QVC”) (the “QVC Agreement”), (iii) design agreements with Liz Claiborne, Inc. (“Liz Claiborne”) (the “LCNY Agreement”) and QVC, Inc. (“QVC”) (the “Design Agreement”) to design the “Liz Claiborne New York” brand for sale exclusively at QVC and (iv) computers, design software, and other assets related to the licensing and design of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and the design of the LCNY Brand (together with the IM Trademarks, the LCNY Agreement, the Design Agreement, the “Isaac Mizrahi Business”). The parties consummated the asset purchase contemplated by the Purchase Agreement on September 29, 2011.

 

Pursuant to an agreement between IM Ready and Earthbound, LLC (“Earthbound”), a design and licensing company (the “Earthbound Agreement”), Earthbound had certain rights related to the IM Trademarks and provided certain design services for IM Ready.  In connection with the consummation of the acquisition by the Company of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, Old XCel and Earthbound entered into a contribution agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) pursuant to which, on the Closing Date, Earthbound contributed to the Company (i) the Earthbound Agreement and (ii) certain assets relating to the operation of the Isaac Mizrahi Business including archives, designs, certain intellectual property rights, software and equipment (the “Earthbound Assets”) in exchange for 944,688 shares of Common Stock and also purchased one (1) Unit in the Private Placement (as described under the caption “Business – Private Placement”).  The closing of the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and Earthbound Assets occurred in conjunction with the consummation of the Merger, after which the Company terminated the Earthbound Agreement.

 

In connection with the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, we entered into a three-year employment agreement with Isaac Mizrahi to serve as Chief Design Officer of the Isaac Mizrahi Brand. Pursuant to his employment agreement Mr. Mizrahi has the right to a bonus if net royalty income exceeds twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) in the twelve-month period commencing October 1, 2011, or in any successive twelve-month period thereafter. For a description of Isaac Mizrahi’s employment agreement, see “Directors and Executive Officers.”

 

Emerging Growth Company Status

 

We are an "emerging growth company" as defined in the recently-enacted Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act ("JOBS Act"), and we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not "emerging growth companies." See "Risk Factors—Risks related to an Investment in our Securities."

 

Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an "emerging growth company" can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an "emerging growth company" can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. As an "emerging growth company," we have elected to "opt out" of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies. Our decision to opt out of the extended transition period is irrevocable.

 

We could remain an "emerging growth company" until the earliest of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which we had total annual gross revenues of $1 billion or more; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our common stock pursuant to an effective registration statement; (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous 3-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt or (iv) the date on which we are deemed a "large accelerated issuer" as defined under the federal securities laws.

 

Risk Factors

 

Our ability to operate our business successfully and achieve our goals and strategies is subject to numerous risks as discussed more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors,” beginning on page 5, including, for example, the following:

 

  · The failure of our licensees to adequately produce, market and sell products bearing our brand names in their license categories or to pay their obligations under their license agreements could result in a decline in our results of operations and impact our ability to service our debt obligations.

 

  · Our debt obligations could impair our liquidity and financial condition, and in the event we are unable to meet our debt obligations we could lose title to our trademarks and/or other assets.

 

  · If we are unable to identify and successfully acquire additional trademarks, our growth may be limited.

 

  · Our failure to protect our proprietary rights could compromise our competitive position and decrease the value of our brands.

 

  · A substantial portion of our licensing revenue is concentrated with a limited number of licensees such that the loss of any of such licenses could decrease our revenue and impair our cash flows.

 

  · The QVC Agreement and Liz Claiborne New York design agreements have only been in place since 2009 so there is very little history with the business of the existing or future licensees, and therefore no guarantee that the licensees will be able to perform or continue to perform.

 

  · We are dependent upon the promotional services of Isaac Mizrahi as it relates to the Isaac Mizrahi brand, which is currently the majority of our business.

 

  · Our design agreements with Liz Claiborne and QVC related to the Liz Claiborne New York line on QVC could be terminated by Liz Claiborne and/or QVC upon the completion of the initial term of the LCNY Agreement in July 2013.

 

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· As an “emerging growth company”, under the JOBS Act, we are permitted to rely on an exemption from certain disclosure requirements.

 

  · The market price of our Common Stock may be volatile, which could reduce the market price of our Common Stock.

 

  · Our Common Stock is not currently traded at high volume, and you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all if you need to sell or liquidate a substantial number of shares at one time.

 

Any of the above risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations. An investment in our securities involves risks. You should read and consider the information set forth in “Risk Factors” and all other information set forth in this prospectus before investing in our securities. 

 

Corporate Information

 

We presently maintain our principal offices at 475 10th Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10018.  Our telephone number is (347) 727-2474.

 

The Offering

 

Common Stock offered by selling security holders   2,912,860 shares of our Common Stock.  This includes (1) 2,308,132 shares of our Common Stock, (2) 230,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Investor Warrants, (3) 364,428 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Lender Warrants and (4) 9,800 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants.
     
Common Stock outstanding before the offering   7,517,387 shares of Common Stock as of July 5, 2012, including 1,561,568 shares of  unvested restricted stock.
     
Common Stock outstanding after the offering   7,517,387 shares of Common Stock as of July 5, 2012, assuming that no warrants or options are exercised including the Warrants, but including 1,561,568 shares of unvested restricted  stock.
     
Terms of the Offering   The initial public offering price for the common stock will be $3.00 per share until the shares of common stock are quoted on a national securities exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board at which time the shares of common stock will be sold at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices.
     
Termination of the Offering   The offering will conclude upon the earliest of (i) such time as all of the Common Stock has been sold pursuant to the registration statement or (ii) such time as all of the Common Stock becomes eligible for resale without volume limitations pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any other rule of similar effect.
     
Use of proceeds   We are not selling any shares of the Common Stock covered by this prospectus, and, as a result, will not receive any proceeds from this offering. We may, however, receive proceeds in the event that some or all of the Warrants held by the selling security holders are exercised for cash. The proceeds from the exercise of such Warrants, if any, will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. 
     
OTCQB Trading Symbol   XELB
     
Risk Factors   An investment in our Common Stock offered hereby involves a high degree of risk and should not be purchased by investors who cannot afford the loss of their entire investment. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the other information included in this prospectus before making an investment decision with regard to our securities. The statements contained in or incorporated herein that are not historic facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. For further information see “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed. In that case, you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We have a limited amount of cash to grow our operations.  If we cannot obtain additional sources of cash, our growth prospects and future profitability may be materially adversely affected and we may not be able to implement our business plan. Such additional financing may not be available on satisfactory terms or it may not be available when needed, or at all.

 

As of March 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $2.9 million.  Although we believe that our existing cash and our anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to sustain our operations, at our current expense levels, for at least the following 12 months, we may require significant additional cash to expand our operations or acquire additional brands.  Our inability to finance our growth, either internally or externally, may limit our growth potential and our ability to execute our business strategy. If we issue securities to raise capital to finance operations and/or pay down debt, our existing stockholders may experience dilution or the new securities may have rights senior to those of our Common Stock.

 

We have a limited operating history and our historical operations were conducted as part of a larger, more diverse business.

 

Although the Isaac Mizrahi brand name has been an established brand for over 20 years, the QVC Agreement and LCNY Agreement relate to businesses at QVC that have been operating only since December 2009, and the Isaac Mizrahi Business was run by Isaac Mizrahi, our Chief Designer, and Marisa Gardini, our Executive Vice President of Marketing prior to our acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands on September 29, 2011. Certain other members of our management performed consulting services for IM Ready, but were not responsible for its operations.  While our management has extensive experience operating branding and licensing companies, it does not have a relevant operating history operating the Isaac Mizrahi Business.  In addition, we have entered into additional licenses for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands who have not yet sold licensed products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and generally do not expect these licenses to sell products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands until Fall 2012, at the earliest.  Accordingly, the operating results of the Isaac Mizrahi Business are not necessarily indicative of the future and you should not place undue reliance on the Isaac Mizrahi Business’s past performance.

 

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The failure of our licensees to adequately produce, market and sell products bearing our brand names in their license categories or to pay their obligations under their license agreements could result in a decline in our results of operations and impact our ability to service our debt obligations.

 

Our revenues are dependent on payments made to us under our licensing agreements. Although the licensing agreements for our brands sometimes require the advance payment to us of a portion of the licensing fees and in many cases provide for guaranteed minimum royalty payments to us, the failure of our licensees to satisfy their obligations under these agreements or their inability to operate successfully or at all, could result in their breach and/or the early termination of such agreements, their non-renewal of such agreements or our decision to amend such agreements to reduce the guaranteed minimums or sales royalties due thereunder, thereby eliminating some or all of that stream of revenue. Moreover, during the terms of the license agreements, we are substantially dependent upon the abilities of our licensees to maintain the quality and marketability of the products bearing our trademarks, as their failure to do so could materially tarnish our brands, thereby harming our future growth and prospects. In addition, the failure of our licensees to meet their production, manufacturing and distribution requirements could cause a decline in their sales and potentially decrease the amount of royalty payments (over and above the guaranteed minimums) due to us. A weak economy or softness in the apparel and retail sectors could exacerbate this risk. This, in turn, could decrease our potential revenues. Moreover, the concurrent failure by several of our material licensees to meet their financial obligations to us could jeopardize our ability to meet the various covenants required in connection with our debt facility or facilities.  Further, this failure may impact our ability to make required payments with respect to such indebtedness.  The failure to meet such debt service coverage ratios or to make such required payments may give the lenders thereunder the right to foreclose on the Company’s trademarks, license agreements, and other related assets securing such notes.

 

Our business is dependent on continued market acceptance of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and any future brands we acquire and the products of our licensees.

 

Although many of our licensees guarantee minimum net sales and minimum royalties to us, most of our licensees are not yet selling licensed products and a failure of our brands or of products bearing our brands to achieve or maintain market acceptance could cause a reduction of our licensing revenues and could further cause existing licensees not to renew their agreements. Such failure could also cause the devaluation of our trademarks, which are our primary assets, making it more difficult for us to renew our current licenses upon their expiration or enter into new or additional licenses for our trademarks. In addition, if such devaluation of our trademarks were to occur, a material impairment in the carrying value of one or more of our trademarks could also occur and be charged as an expense to our operating results. Continued market acceptance of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and our licensees’ products, as well as market acceptance of any future products bearing any future brands we acquire, is subject to a high degree of uncertainty, made more so by constantly changing consumer tastes and preferences. Creating and maintaining market acceptance of our licensees’ products and creating market acceptance of new products and categories of products bearing our marks may require substantial marketing efforts, which may, from time to time, also include our expenditure of significant additional funds to keep pace with changing consumer demands, which funds we may or may not have available to spend. Additional marketing efforts and expenditures may not, however, result in either increased market acceptance of, or additional licenses for, our trademarks or increased market acceptance, or sales, of our licensees’ products. Furthermore, while we believe that we currently maintain sufficient control over the products our licensees’ produce under our brand names through the provision of trend direction and our right to preview and approve a majority of such products, including their presentation and packaging, we do not actually design or manufacture all of the products bearing our marks and therefore have more limited control over such products’ quality and design than a traditional product manufacturer might have.

 

Our debt obligations could impair our liquidity and financial condition, and in the event we are unable to meet our debt obligations we could lose title to our trademarks and/or other assets.

 

We entered into a five-year senior secured term facility (the “Loan”) with MidMarket Capital Partners, LLC (“Midmarket”) pursuant to which we incurred $13.5 million principal amount of senior secured term debt.  In addition, we issued to IM Ready a seller note (the “Seller Note”) in the principal amount of $7,377,432, subject to adjustment as set forth herein, and assumed from IM Ready the obligation of payments to Earthbound aggregating $1,500,000 (recorded as an installment debt obligation of $1.148 million as of March 31, 2012) under a services agreement.  The Company may also assume or incur additional debt, including secured debt, in the future in connection with, or to fund, future acquisitions, subject to limited exceptions.  The Loan also requires us to repay the principal loan balance from net cash proceeds received by the Company, IM Brands or any subsidiary in excess of $1,000,000 from the sale of equity securities to the extent such proceeds are not used to fund the purchase price, costs or expenses of a potential acquisition. Our debt obligations:

 

  · could impair our liquidity;

 

  · could make it more difficult for us to satisfy our other obligations;

 

  · require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow to payments on our debt obligations, which reduces the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other corporate requirements;

 

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  · could impede us from obtaining additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate purposes;

 

  · impose restrictions on us with respect to the use of our available cash, including in connection with future transactions;

 

  · make us more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in our business prospects and could limit our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in our licensing markets; and

 

  · could place us at a competitive disadvantage when compared to our competitors who have less debt.

 

While we believe that by virtue of the guaranteed minimum and percentage royalty payments due to us under certain of our licenses, we will generate sufficient revenues from our licensing operations to satisfy our obligations for the foreseeable future, in the event that we were to fail in the future to make any required payment under agreements governing our indebtedness or fail to comply with the financial and operating covenants contained in those agreements, we would be in default regarding that indebtedness and the lenders could declare such indebtedness to be immediately due and payable.  A debt default could significantly diminish the market value and marketability of our Common Stock and could result in the acceleration of the payment obligations under all or a portion of our consolidated indebtedness. It may also enable our senior lender or lenders to foreclose on the Company’s and IM Brands’ assets and/or our membership interests in IM Brands, which currently constitutes substantially all of intangible assets.

 

We expect to achieve growth based upon our plans to expand the Isaac Mizrahi Business. If we fail to manage our expected future growth, our business and operating results could be harmed.

 

We project growth in the Isaac Mizrahi Business based upon engaging additional licensees for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands as well as projected growth of the IsaacMizrahiLIVE business with QVC.  We may also evaluate and pursue appropriate opportunities with other brands (including acquiring and/or entering into licensing and/or design agreements or other business arrangements with such brands) to the extent we believe that such opportunities would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.

 

This expected growth will place considerable demands on our management and other resources. Our ability to compete effectively and to manage future growth, if any, will depend on the sufficiency and adequacy of our current resources and infrastructure and our ability to continue to identify, attract and retain personnel to manage our brands. There can be no assurance that our personnel, systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to support our operations and allow us to properly oversee our brands. The failure to support our operations effectively and properly oversee our brands could cause harm to our brands and have a material adverse effect on their fair values and our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we may be unable to leverage our core competencies in managing apparel brands to managing brands in new product categories.

 

Also, there can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve and sustain meaningful growth. Our growth may be limited by a number of factors including increased competition among branded products at bricks-and-mortar, internet, and direct-response retailers, competition for retail license and brand acquisitions, and/or insufficient capitalization for future transactions.

 

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If we are unable to identify and successfully acquire additional trademarks, our growth may be limited, and, even if additional trademarks are acquired, we may not realize anticipated benefits due to integration or licensing difficulties.

 

While the Company’s current focus is on growing the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, the Company may seek to acquire additional intellectual property. Historically, our management team has been involved in numerous acquisitions of varying sizes. We will continue to explore new acquisitions. However, as our competitors continue to pursue our brand management model, acquisitions may become more expensive and suitable acquisition candidates could become more difficult to find. In addition, even if we successfully acquire additional intellectual property or the rights to use additional intellectual property, we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability levels that justify our investment in, or realize planned benefits with respect to, those additional brands.

 

Although we will seek to temper our acquisition risks by following acquisition guidelines relating to the existing strength of the brand, its diversification benefits to us, its potential licensing scale and credit worthiness of licensee base, acquisitions, whether they be of additional intellectual property assets or of the companies that own them, entail numerous risks, any of which could detrimentally affect our results of operations and/or the value of our equity. These risks include, among others:

 

  · unanticipated costs associated with the target acquisition;

 

  · our ability to identify appropriate business opportunities, including potential licenses and new product lines and markets;

 

  · negative effects on reported results of operations from acquisition-related charges and amortization of acquired intangibles;

 

  · diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;

 

  · the challenges of maintaining focus on, and continuing to execute, core strategies and business plans as our brand and license portfolio grows and becomes more diversified;

 

  · adverse effects on existing licensing and other relationships;

 

  · potential difficulties associated with the retention of key employees, and difficulties, delays and unanticipated costs associated with the assimilation of personnel, operations and systems, which may be retained by us in connection with or as a result of our acquisitions; and

 

  · risks of entering new domestic and international markets (whether it be with respect to new licensed product categories or new licensed product distribution channels) or markets in which we have limited prior experience.

 

When we acquire intellectual property assets or the companies that own them, our due diligence reviews are subject to inherent uncertainties and may not reveal all potential risks.  We may therefore fail to discover or accurately assess undisclosed or contingent liabilities, including liabilities for which we may have responsibility as a successor to the seller or the target company.  As a successor, we may be responsible for any past or continuing violations of law by the seller or the target company.  Although we will generally attempt to seek contractual protections through representations, warranties and indemnities, we cannot be sure that we will obtain such provisions in our acquisitions or that such provisions will fully protect us from all unknown, contingent or other liabilities or costs.  Finally, claims against us relating to any acquisition may necessitate our seeking claims against the seller for which the seller may not, or may not be able to, indemnify us or that may exceed the scope, duration or amount of the seller’s indemnification obligations.

 

Acquiring additional intellectual property could also have a significant effect on our financial position and could cause substantial fluctuations in our quarterly and yearly operating results. Acquisitions could result in the recording of significant goodwill and intangible assets on our financial statements, the amortization or impairment of which would reduce our reported earnings in subsequent years. No assurance can be given with respect to the timing, likelihood or financial or business effect of any possible transaction. Moreover, as discussed below, our ability to grow through the acquisition of additional intellectual property will also depend on the availability of capital to complete the necessary acquisition arrangements. In the event that we are unable to obtain debt financing on acceptable terms for a particular acquisition, we may elect to pursue the acquisition through the issuance by us of shares of our Common Stock (and, in certain cases, convertible securities) as equity consideration, which could dilute our Common Stock because it could reduce our earnings per share, and any such dilution could reduce the market price of our Common Stock unless and until we were able to achieve revenue growth or cost savings and other business economies sufficient to offset the effect of such an issuance. As a result, there is no guarantee that our stockholders will achieve greater returns as a result of any future acquisitions we complete.

 

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Because of the intense competition within our existing and potential licensees’ markets and the strength of some of their competitors, we and our licensees may not be able to continue to compete successfully.

 

We expect our existing and future licenses to relate to products in the apparel, fashion accessories, footwear, beauty and fragrance, home products, décor, electronic products and accessories, and travel accessories industries, in which our licensees face intense competition, including from our other brands and licensees. In general, competitive factors include quality, price, style, name recognition and service. In addition, various trends, fads and the limited availability of shelf space could affect competition for our licensees’ products. Many of our licensees’ competitors have greater financial, distribution, marketing and other resources than our licensees and have achieved significant name recognition for their brand names. Our licensees may be unable to successfully compete in the markets for their products, and we may not be able to continue to compete successfully with respect to our licensing arrangements.

 

If our competition for licenses increases, or any of our current licensees elect not to renew their licenses or renew on term less favorable than today, our revenues may be negatively impacted.

 

We may face increasing competition in the future for licenses as other companies owning established brands may decide to enter into licensing arrangements with retailers or interactive media companies similar to the ones we currently have in place. Furthermore, our current or potential licensees may decide to develop or purchase brands rather than renew or enter into license agreements with us. In addition, this increased competition could result in lower sales of products offered by our licensees under our brands. If our competition for licenses increases, it may take us longer to procure additional licenses which could slow our growth rate or reduce our revenues.

 

Our licensees are subject to risks and uncertainties of foreign manufacturing and the price, availability and quality of raw materials that could interrupt their operations or increase their operating costs, thereby affecting their ability to deliver goods to the market, reduce or delay their sales and decrease our potential royalty revenues.

 

Substantially all of the products sold by our licensees are manufactured overseas. There are substantial risks associated with foreign manufacturing, including changes in laws relating to quotas, and the payment of tariffs and duties, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, shipping delays and international political, regulatory and economic developments. Further, our licensees may experience fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of fabrics and raw materials used by them in their manufactured apparel or purchased finished goods. Any of these risks could increase our licensees’ operating costs. Our licensees also import finished products and assume all risk of loss and damage with respect to these goods once they are shipped by their suppliers. If these goods are destroyed or damaged during shipment, the revenues of our licensees, and thus our royalty revenues over and above the guaranteed minimums, could be reduced as a result of our licensees’ inability to deliver or their delay in delivering their products.

 

Our failure to protect our proprietary rights could compromise our competitive position and decrease the value of our brands.

 

We own, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, IM Brands, U.S. federal trademark registrations and foreign trademark registrations for our Isaac Mizrahi Brands that are vital to the success and further growth of our business and which we believe have significant value. We will monitor on an ongoing basis unauthorized filings of our trademarks and imitations thereof, and rely primarily upon a combination of trademarks, copyrights and contractual restrictions to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights domestically and internationally. We believe that such measures afford only limited protection and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that the actions taken by us to establish protect and enforce our trademarks and other proprietary rights will prevent infringement of our intellectual property rights by others, or prevent the loss of licensing revenue or other damages caused therefrom.

 

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For instance, despite our efforts to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our intellectual property, which could harm the reputation of our brands, decrease their value and/or cause a decline in our licensees’ sales and thus our revenues. Further, we and our licensees may not be able to detect infringement of our intellectual property rights quickly or at all, and at times we or our licensees may not be successful combating counterfeit, infringing or knockoff products, thereby damaging our competitive position. In addition, we depend upon the laws of the countries where our licensees’ products are sold to protect our intellectual property. Intellectual property rights may be unavailable or limited in some countries because standards of registerability vary internationally. Consequently, in certain foreign jurisdictions, we have elected or may elect not to apply for trademark registrations. While we generally apply for trademarks in most countries where we license or intend to license our trademarks, we may not accurately predict all of the countries where trademark protection will ultimately be desirable. If we fail to timely file a trademark application in any such country, we may be precluded from obtaining a trademark registration in such country at a later date. Failure to adequately pursue and enforce our trademark rights could damage our brands, enable others to compete with our brands and impair our ability to compete effectively.

 

In addition, in the future, we may be required to assert infringement claims against third parties, or third parties may assert infringement claims against us. Any resulting litigation or proceeding could result in significant expense to us and divert the efforts of our management personnel, whether or not such litigation or proceeding is determined in our favor. In addition, to the extent that any of our trademarks were ever deemed to violate the proprietary rights of others in any litigation or proceeding or as a result of any claim, we may be prevented from using them, which could cause a termination of our licensing arrangements, and thus our revenue stream, with respect to those trademarks. Litigation could also result in a judgment or monetary damages being levied against us.

 

A substantial portion of our licensing revenue is concentrated with a limited number of licensees such that the loss of any of such licensees could decrease our revenue and impair our cash flows.

 

Since January 1, 2010 a substantial portion of the revenues has been paid by QVC, either through the QVC Agreement for the “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” brand or through the LCNY Agreement and Design Agreement related to the LCNY Brand. Because we are dependent on these agreements with QVC for a significant portion of our revenue, if QVC were to have financial difficulties, or if QVC decides not to renew or extend its existing agreements with us, our revenue and cash flows could be reduced substantially. Additionally, we have limited control over the programming that QVC devotes to the IsaacMizrahiLIVE and LCNY Brand or its promotional sales with the IsaacMizrahiLIVE and LCNY Brand (such as Today’s Special Value sales). If QVC reduces or modifies its programming or promotional sales related to the IsaacMizrahiLIVE and/or the Liz Claiborne New York brands, our revenues and cash flows could be reduced substantially.

 

The initial term of the QVC Agreement expires on September 30, 2015, with automatic one-year renewal periods unless terminated by either party.  The initial term of the LCNY Agreement expires on July 31, 2013 and provides for five one-year renewal periods based on meeting minimum sales thresholds, with the term of the Design Agreement concurrent with the LCNY Agreement.  There can be no assurance that the agreements will be renewed upon expiration of the initial terms, that the minimum sales thresholds will be met or that QVC will not terminate the QVC Agreement, the Design Agreement or its license agreement with Fifth & Pacific related to the LCNY Brand for non-performance.

 

The QVC Agreement, LCNY Agreement and Design Agreement were originally entered into in 2009, and have been in place for less than 3 years. While the businesses have seen growth since they were launched in 2009 and 2010, there is no guarantee that they will continue to grow in the future. Additionally, while we have entered into additional license agreements for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands in order to diversify and grow our revenues there are no guarantees that our new licensees will be able to generate sales of products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, and if they do generate sales, there is no guarantee that they will not cause a decline in sales of product being sold through QVC.

 

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We are dependent upon our chief executive officer and other key executives. If we lose the services of these individuals we may not be able to fully implement our business plan and future growth strategy, which would harm our business and prospects.

 

Our success as a marketer and licensor of intellectual property is largely dependent upon the efforts of Robert D’Loren, our chief executive officer and chairman. Our continued success is largely dependent upon his continued efforts and those of our other key executives. Although we entered into an employment agreement with Robert D’Loren, as well as employment agreements with other of our key executives and employees, including Isaac Mizrahi, there is no guarantee that we will not lose the services of our executive officers or key employees. To the extent that any of their services become unavailable to us, we will be required to hire other qualified executives, and we may not be successful in finding or hiring adequate replacements. This could impede our ability to fully implement our business plan and future growth strategy, which would harm our business and prospects.

 

We are dependent upon the promotional services of Isaac Mizrahi as it relates to the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, which is currently our primary business.

 

If we lose the services of Isaac Mizrahi, we may not be able to fully comply with the terms of our license agreements with QVC or our design agreements with Liz Claiborne and QVC and it may result in significant reductions in the value of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and our prospects, revenues and cash flows.  Isaac Mizrahi is a key individual in our continued promotion of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and the principal salesperson of the IsaacMizrahiLIVE brand on QVC. Although we have entered into an employment agreement with Isaac Mizrahi and he is a significant shareholder of the Company, there is no guarantee that we will not lose his services. To the extent that any of Mr. Mizrahi’s services become unavailable to us, we will likely need to find a replacement for Mr. Mizrahi to promote the Isaac Mizrahi Brands. Compensation for skilled designers or promoters is intense and there is no guarantee that we would be able to identify and attract a qualified replacement, or if Mr. Mizrahi’s services are not available to us, that we would be able to provide design guidance or promote the Isaac Mizrahi Brands as well as we are able to with Mr. Mizrahi. This could significantly affect the value of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and our ability to market the brands, and could impede our ability to fully implement our business plan and future growth strategy, which would harm our business and prospects. Additionally, while we acquired all trademarks, image, and likeness of Isaac Mizrahi through the Purchase Agreement, pursuant to his employment agreement and the Purchase Agreement, Mr. Mizrahi has retained certain rights to participate in outside business activities, including hosting and appearing in television shows, movies and theater productions, writing and publishing books and other publications, and selling his couture collections under his name in his own stores and other retail locations through a license with the Company.  While the Company encourages Mr. Mizrahi to engage in activities that generate positive consumer awareness of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, Mr. Mizrahi’s participation in these personal business ventures could limit his availability to us and affect his ability to perform under this employment agreement.  There is no guarantee that Mr. Mizrahi will not take an action that the consumer views as negative, which may harm the Isaac Mizrahi Brands as well as our business and prospects.

 

The LCNY Agreement (our design agreement with Liz Claiborne related to the LCNY Brand on QVC)and the Design Agreement could be terminated by Liz Claiborne and/or QVC in the event that QVC or Liz Claiborne decides not to renew its licensing agreement with respect to the LCNY Brand, or if we were to lose the services of Isaac Mizrahi as the designer with respect to LCNY Brand, thereby decreasing our expected revenues and cash flows.

 

We currently have the LCNY Agreement in place with Liz Claiborne, pursuant to which Isaac Mizrahi designs the LCNY Brand to be sold on QVC in exchange for the Company receiving a percentage of the royalties that Liz Claiborne receives from QVC under a separate license agreement between LC and QVC, and an expense reimbursement agreement with QVC pursuant to which QVC reimburses us for certain expenses related to such design services (the Design Agreement). Both the LCNY Agreement and the Design Agreement are co-terminus with the license agreement between Liz Claiborne and QVC, which has an initial term through July 31, 2013. There is no guarantee that Liz Claiborne or QVC will renew the agreement past its initial term, which would impair our revenues and cash flows. Additionally, Liz Claiborne has the right at its option to terminate the LCNY Agreement if the services of Isaac Mizrahi as designer for LCNY Brand products are no longer available to Liz Claiborne and we do not agree upon a replacement designer. Although we have entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Mizrahi, there can be no assurance that he will provide such services if required by Liz Claiborne or that in the event we, and thus QVC, were to lose the ability to draw on such services, Liz Claiborne would continue its design agreement with us. The loss of the LCNY Agreement and Design Agreement would significantly decrease our expected revenues and cash flows. On November 2, 2011, Liz Claiborne sold its rights to the “Liz Claiborne” brands and trademarks (including the LCNY Brand) to JC Penney Company, Inc. (“JCP”) and concurrently entered into a reverse license agreement with JCP to license the LCNY Brand from JCP on a royalty-free basis through July 31, 2020. Under its agreement with Liz Claiborne, JCP has the option to terminate such license in exchange for paying an undisclosed amount to Liz Claiborne at any time after August 1, 2012. JCP may exercise such option and, in the event it does, there is no guarantee that JCP will not also terminate the LCNY Agreement which would significantly decrease our expected revenues and cash flows.

 

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We expect to have a material amount of intangible assets, including our trademarks, recorded on our balance sheet. As a result of changes in market conditions and declines in the estimated fair value of these assets, we may, in the future, be required to write down a portion of this intangible assets and such write-down would, as applicable, either decrease our net income or increase our net loss.

 

Trademarks represent a significant portion of our assets. Under current U.S. GAAP accounting standards, indefinite life intangible assets, including our trademarks, are no longer amortized, but instead are subject to impairment evaluation based on related estimated fair values, with such testing to be done at least annually. Any write-down of intangible assets resulting from future periodic evaluations would, as applicable, either decrease our net income or increase our net loss and those decreases or increases could be material.

 

Changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect our results.

 

Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, or by changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof. In addition, we are subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of recovering the amount of deferred tax assets recorded on our balance sheet and the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from examinations by various taxing authorities in order to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. We cannot guarantee that the outcomes of these evaluations and continuous examinations will not harm our reported operating results and financial conditions.

 

Our management and a limited number of stockholders, many of whom are related parties, collectively hold a controlling interest in us.  They have significant influence over our management and their interests may not be aligned with our interests or the interests of our other stockholders.

 

Our management and a limited number of stockholders have majority control over us and our business plans and minority stockholders may be unable to meaningfully influence our course of action.  The existing management and a limited number of stockholders, many of whom are related parties, are able to control substantially all matters requiring stockholder approval, including nomination and election of directors and approval or rejection of significant corporate transactions.  There is also a risk that our existing management and a limited number of stockholders may have interests which are different from certain stockholders and that they will pursue an agenda which is beneficial to themselves at the expense of other stockholders.

 

We must successfully maintain and/or upgrade our information technology systems.

 

We rely on various information technology systems to manage our operations, which subjects us to inherent costs and risks associated with maintaining, upgrading, replacing and changing these systems, including impairment of our information technology, potential disruption of our internal control systems, substantial capital expenditures, demands on management time and other risks of delays or difficulties in upgrading, transitioning to new systems or of integrating new systems into our current systems.

 

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A decline in general economic conditions resulting in a decrease in consumer-spending levels and an inability to access capital may adversely affect our business.

 

Many economic factors beyond our control may impact our forecasts and actual performance. These factors include consumer confidence, consumer spending levels, employment levels, availability of consumer credit, recession, deflation, inflation, a general slowdown of the U.S. economy or an uncertain economic outlook. Furthermore, changes in the credit and capital markets, including market disruptions, limited liquidity and interest rate fluctuations, may increase the cost of financing or restrict our access to potential sources of capital for future acquisitions.

 

The risks associated with our business are more acute during periods of economic slowdown or recession. In addition to other consequences, these periods may be accompanied by decreased consumer spending generally, as well as decreased demand for, or additional downward pricing pressure on, the products carrying our brands. Accordingly, any prolonged economic slowdown or a lengthy or severe recession with respect to either the U.S. or the global economy is likely to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business prospects.

 

Risks Related to an Investment in our Securities

 

The recently enacted JOBS Act will allow us to postpone the date by which we must comply with certain laws and regulations and to reduce the amount of information provided in reports filed with the SEC. We cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.

 

We are and we will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which our total annual revenues equal or exceed $1 billion (subject to adjustment for inflation), (ii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the first date of sales of securities pursuant to this registration statement, (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt, or (iv) the date on which we are deemed a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. For so long as we remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we will rely on some or all of these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile. If we avail ourselves of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements, our reduced disclosure may make it more difficult for investors and securities analysts to evaluate us and may result in less investor confidence.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately or in a timely fashion, and we may not be able to prevent fraud; in such case, our stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and could negatively impact the price of our stock.

 

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we are required to include in our Annual Report on Form 10-K our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. We have dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to ensure compliance with this legislation for the year ended December 31, 2011 and will continue to do so for future fiscal periods. Although we believe that we currently have adequate internal control procedures in place, we cannot be certain that future material changes to our internal controls over financial reporting will be effective. If we cannot adequately maintain the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, we may be subject to sanctions or investigation by regulatory authorities, such as the SEC. Any such action could adversely affect our financial results and the market price of our common stock. Moreover, if we discover a material weakness, the disclosure of that fact, even if quickly remedied, could reduce the market’s confidence in our financial statements and harm our stock price.

 

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Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” At such time that an attestation is required, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event that it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed or operating. Our remediation efforts may not enable us to avoid a material weakness in the future.

 

Management exercises significant control over matters requiring shareholder approval which may result in the delay or prevention of a change in our control.

 

The combined voting power of the Common Stock ownership of our officers and directors and key employees is approximately 69% of our voting securities. Additionally, pursuant to the Voting Agreement, IM Ready agreed to appoint a person designated by the board of directors as IM Ready’s irrevocable proxy and attorney-in-fact with respect to the shares of the Common Stock received by IM Ready and held by IM Ready or its transferees in connection with the Merger.  The proxy holder shall vote in favor of matters recommended or approved by the board of directors.

 

As a result, our management and key employees through such stock ownership exercises significant control over all matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of our directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership in management and key employees may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of us that may be otherwise viewed as beneficial by shareholders other than management.

 

There are limitations on the liabilities of our directors and executive officers. Under certain circumstances, we are obligated to indemnify our directors and executive officers against liability and expenses incurred by them in their service to us.

 

Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and under Delaware law, our directors are not liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, except for liability for breach of a director’s duty of loyalty, acts or omissions by a director not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, dividend payments or stock repurchases that are unlawful under Delaware law or any transaction in which a director has derived an improper personal benefit. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify each director and executive officer for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts, incurred by any such person in any action or proceeding, including any action by us or in our right, arising out of the person’s services as one of our directors or executive officers. The costs associated with providing indemnification under these agreements could be harmful to our business.

 

We incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, which may adversely affect its business.

 

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that the Isaac Mizrahi Business did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and new rules subsequently implemented by the SEC have required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies.  These rules and regulations create legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming and costly than if we were private. For example, as a public company, the Company has adopted policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures in order to comply with public company internal control and disclosure standards.

 

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The market price of our Common Stock may be volatile, which could reduce the market price of our Common Stock.

 

The publicly traded shares of our Common Stock are not initially widely held, and do not have significant trading volume, and therefore may experience significant price and volume fluctuations. This market volatility could reduce the market price of the Common Stock, regardless of our operating performance. In addition, the trading price of the Common Stock could change significantly over short periods of time in response to actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results, announcements by us, our licensees or our respective competitors, factors affecting our licensees’ markets generally and/or changes in national or regional economic conditions, making it more difficult for shares of the Common Stock to be sold at a favorable price or at all. The market price of the Common Stock could also be reduced by general market price declines or market volatility in the future or future declines or volatility in the prices of stocks for companies in the trademark licensing business or companies in the industries in which our licensees compete.

 

We are subject to the penny stock rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission that require brokers to provide extensive disclosure to their customers prior to executing trades in penny stocks. These disclosure requirements may cause a reduction in the trading activity of our Common Stock, which in all likelihood would make it difficult for our stockholders to sell their securities.

 

Rule 3a51-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 establishes the definition of a “penny stock,” for purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that has a minimum bid price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to a limited number of exceptions which are not available to us. This classification may severely and adversely affect any market liquidity for our Common Stock.

 

For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the penny stock rules require that a broker or dealer approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks and the broker or dealer receive from the investor a written agreement to the transaction setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased.  In order to approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must obtain financial information and investment experience and objectives of the person and make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and that that person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks.

 

The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prepared by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form, sets forth:

 

  · The basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination; and

 

  · That the broker or dealer received a signed, written agreement from the investor prior to the transaction.

 

Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and commission payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.

 

Because of these regulations, broker-dealers may not wish to engage in the above-referenced necessary paperwork and disclosures and/or may encounter difficulties in their attempt to sell shares of our Common Stock, which may affect the ability of selling stockholders or other holders to sell their shares in any secondary market and have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in any secondary market. These additional sales practices and disclosure requirements could impede the sale of our Common Stock, if and when our Common Stock becomes publicly traded. In addition, the liquidity for our Common Stock may decrease, with a corresponding decrease in the price of our Common Stock. Our Common Stock, in all probability, will be subject to such penny stock rules for the foreseeable future and our stockholders will, in all likelihood, find it difficult to sell their Common Stock.

 

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Future sales of Common Stock in the public market or the issuance of Common Stock or securities senior to the Common Stock could adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock.

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation currently authorizes our board of directors to issue shares of Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock outstanding after this offering.  Any additional issuances of any of our authorized but unissued shares will not require the approval of stockholders and may have the effect of further diluting the equity interest of stockholders.

 

We may issue Common Stock in the future for a number of reasons, including to attract and retain key personnel, to lenders, investment banks, or investors in order to achieve more favorable terms from these parties and align their interests with our common equity holders, to management and/or employees to reward performance to finance our operations and growth strategy, to adjust our ratio of debt to equity, to satisfy outstanding obligations or for other reasons. If we issue securities, our existing stockholders may experience dilution.  Future sales of the Common Stock, the perception that such sales could occur or the availability for future sale of shares of the Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for our Common Stock could adversely affect the market prices of our Common Stock prevailing from time to time.  The sale of shares issued upon the exercise of our derivative securities could also further dilute the holdings of our then existing stockholders, including holders of any convertible notes that receive shares of the Common Stock upon conversion of their notes. In addition, future public sales of shares of the Common Stock could impair our ability to raise capital by offering equity securities.

 

We may issue a substantial number of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of outstanding warrants and options, as payment of our obligations under the Seller Note and to satisfy obligations to IM Ready if royalty revenue targets are met.

 

We have outstanding warrants and options to purchase 1,518,744 shares of Common Stock, of which warrants to purchase 594,928 shares are exercisable at a price of $0.01 per share.  The holders of warrants and options will likely exercise such securities at a time when the market price of our Common Stock exceeds the exercise price.  Therefore, exercises of warrants and options will result in a decrease in the net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock and such decrease could be material.  In addition, we may issue shares of Common Stock to satisfy up to $32,765,500 of earn-out payments to IM Ready if royalty revenue targets are met by the Isaac Mizrahi Business.

 

We may also satisfy our obligations under the $7,377,432 principal amount Seller Note payable to IM Ready by issuing shares of Common Stock.  The number of shares which we issue to satisfy our earn-out payment obligations or obligations under the Note will be based on the future market price of our Common Stock and are currently not determinable.  The issuance of shares to satisfy such obligations and upon exercise of outstanding warrants and options will dilute our then-existing stockholders’ percentage ownership of our company, and such dilution could be substantial.  Sales or the potential for sale of a substantial number of such shares could adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock, particularly if our Common Stock remains thinly traded at such time.

 

We have registered for resale a significant number of shares on behalf of certain officers and directors.

 

We have registered for resale an aggregate of 797,500 shares of common stock for certain executive officers, directors and their affiliates in this registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, including 360,000 shares held by Marisa Gardini, an executive officer and director of our company. Such shares represent, in the aggregate, approximately 10.6% of our outstanding common stock. These individuals may have personal interests that differ from the interests of our stockholders and may seek to sell all or a portion of these shares at a time when such sales may not be in our best interests and which may adversely affect the markets for our stock or our ability to effect a financing or other transaction which we may seek to undertake.

 

The Common Stock is not currently traded at high volume, and you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all if you need to sell or liquidate a substantial number of shares at one time.

 

The Common Stock is currently traded, but with very low, if any, volume, based on quotations on the OTCQB tier of the “Over-the-Counter Markets”, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our Common Stock at or near bid prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent.  This situation is attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that prior to the closing of the Acquisition, we did not have an operating business, however, we are a small company which is still relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we became more seasoned.  As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price.  We cannot give you any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for our Common Stock will develop or be sustained, or that trading levels will be sustained.

 

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Stockholders should be aware that, according to Commission Release No. 34-29093, the market for “penny stocks” has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse.  Such patterns include (1) control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (2) manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases; (3) boiler room practices involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons; (4) excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differential and markups by selling broker-dealers; and (5) the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, along with the resulting inevitable collapse of those prices and with consequent investor losses.  Our management is aware of the abuses that have occurred historically in the penny stock market.  Although we do not expect to be in a position to dictate the behavior of the market or of broker-dealers who participate in the market, management will strive within the confines of practical limitations to prevent the described patterns from being established with respect to our securities. The occurrence of these patterns or practices could increase the future volatility of our share price.

 

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on the Common Stock.

 

You should not rely on an investment in our Common Stock to provide dividend income, as we currently do not plan to pay any in the foreseeable future.  Instead, we plan to retain any earnings to maintain and expand our existing licensing operations, further develop our trademarks and finance the acquisition of additional trademarks.  Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their Common Stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any return on their investment. In addition, the Loan prohibits us from paying any cash dividends while it is outstanding.

 

Provisions of our corporate charter documents could delay or prevent change of control.

 

Our Certificate of Incorporate authorizes our board of directors to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock without stockholder approval, in one or more series and to fix the dividend rights, terms, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences, and any other rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions applicable to each new series of preferred stock.  In addition our Certificate of Incorporation divides our board of directors into three classes, serving staggered three-year terms following our next shareholder meeting.  Pursuant to such provisions, at least two annual meetings, instead of one, will be required to effect a change in a majority of our board of directors.  The designation of preferred stock in the future, as well as the classification of our board of directors into three classes could make it difficult for third parties to gain control of our company, prevent or substantially delay a change in control, discourage bids for the Common Stock at a premium, or otherwise adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock.

 

Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies.

 

Historically, the SEC has taken the position that Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as amended, is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by companies that are, or previously were, blank check companies like us, to their promoters or affiliates despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144. The SEC prohibits the use of Rule 144 for resale of securities issued by shell companies (other than business transaction related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. The SEC has provided an important exception to this prohibition, however, if the following conditions are met: the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company; the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company. As such, due to the fact that we had been a shell company prior to October 2005, holders of “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144, when reselling their shares pursuant to Rule 144, shall be subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain information contained in this prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties, principally in the sections entitled “Description of Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”  All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this prospectus, 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,” “should,” “would,”, “guidance,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.  Although we do not make forward looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.  These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this prospectus, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements 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.  All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

 

Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, there is no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

 

The specific discussions herein about us include financial projections and future estimates and expectations about our business.  The projections, estimates and expectations are presented in this prospectus only as a guide about future possibilities and do not represent actual amounts or assured events.  All the projections and estimates are based exclusively on our management’s own assessment of our business, the industry in which we works and the economy at large and other operational factors, including capital resources and liquidity, financial condition, fulfillment of contracts and opportunities.  The actual results may differ significantly from the projections.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Common Stock by the selling security holders. All of the net proceeds from the resale of our Common Stock will go to the selling security holders as described below in the sections entitled “Selling Security Holders” and “Plan of Distribution”.  We have agreed to bear the expenses relating to the registration of the Common Stock for the selling security holders.

 

A portion of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus are issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. We may receive proceeds in the event some or all of the Warrants held by the selling security holders are exercised for cash. To the extent that the selling stockholders exercise, for cash, all of the Warrants covering the 754,728 shares of Common Stock registered for resale under this prospectus, we would receive approximately $61,000 in the aggregate from such exercises; however the holders of the Warrants may elect to exercise the Warrants utilizing a cashless exercise provision. Any proceeds received from the exercise of the warrants will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes.  

 

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DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE

 

The prices at which the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus may actually be sold will be determined by the prevailing public market price for shares of Common Stock, by negotiations between the selling security holders and buyers of our Common Stock in private transactions or as otherwise described in “Plan of Distribution.”

 

DILUTION

 

The selling security holders are offering for resale common shares underlying the outstanding Warrants. To the extent such Warrants are exercised, the existing stockholders will experience dilution to their ownership interests in us.

 

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Corporate History

 

We were incorporated on August 31, 1989 in the State of Delaware under the name Houston Operating Company.  On December 9, 2004, we entered into an acquisition agreement for all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of NetFabric Corporation, and on April 19, 2005, we changed our name to NetFabric Holdings, Inc.

 

On September 28, 2011, we filed an amendment to our certificate of incorporation and effected a 1 for 520.5479607 reverse stock split.

 

The Merger

 

On September 29, 2011, the Company, Xcel Brands, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation (“Old XCel”), Netfabric Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Acquisition Corp.”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and certain stockholders of the Company entered into an Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Acquisition Corp. was merged with and into Old XCel, with Old XCel surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”).  Immediately following the Merger, Old XCel was merged with and into the Company (the “Short Form Merger”) and the Company changed its name to Xcel Brands, Inc.  Pursuant to the Merger, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Old XCel in exchange for issuing an aggregate of 944,688 shares of Common Stock to Old XCel’s stockholders at a ratio of 9,446.88 shares of Common Stock for each share of Old XCel common stock outstanding at the effective time of the Merger.  As a result of the Merger and certain related transactions as described herein, Old XCel’s former stockholders and the IM Ready’s (as defined below) stockholders became the majority stockholders of the Company.  Shares of the Company’s Common Stock are quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol XELB.

 

Also in connection with the Merger and related transactions, as more fully described herein, the Company issued (i) 2,759,000 shares of Common Stock to IM Ready-Made, LLC, a New York limited liability company (“IM Ready”), and 944,688 shares of Common Stock to Earthbound, LLC (“Earthbound”), both in satisfaction of Old XCel’s obligations under an asset purchase agreement with IM Ready (the “Purchase Agreement”) and (ii) 47,132 shares of Common Stock to Mr. Stephen J. Cole-Hatchard (or his designees), a then-current director of the Company, for his agreement to continue to serve as a director of the Company until the effectiveness of an information statement that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the Merger and as required by Rule 14f-1 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which statement became effective on October 17, 2011 (the “Effective Date”).

 

On September 28, 2011, the Company filed an amendment to its certificate of incorporation and affected a 1 for 520.5479607 reverse stock split such that holders of Common Stock prior to the Merger held a total of 186,811 shares of Common Stock and options and warrants to purchase 1,065 shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger.  After giving effect to the Merger, the Private Placement, the Loan and the transactions related thereto (all as defined and described herein), there were 5,743,319 issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Closing Date (as defined below), and 5,810,444 as of December 31, 2011. All numbers of shares of Common Stock referenced herein are on a post-split basis.

 

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Additionally, 20,000 of the shares of Common Stock held by Beaufort Ventures, PLC, a principal stockholder of the Company prior to the Merger, are being held in escrow until such time as final determination is made by the Internal Revenue Service of certain Company tax liabilities.  As additional consideration for the Merger, Old XCel paid $125,000 at the Closing to the then-current counsel to the Company in order to extinguish certain remaining liabilities of the Company immediately preceding the Merger.

 

Acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business

 

On May 19, 2011, Old XCel and IM Brands, LLC (“IM Brands”), which was then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Old XCel (together, the “Buyers”), entered into an asset purchase agreement, as amended (the “Purchase Agreement”), with IM Ready, Isaac Mizrahi and Marisa Gardini, pursuant to which the Buyers acquired certain assets of IM Ready, including (i) the “Isaac Mizrahi” brands (including the trademarks and brands “Isaac Mizrahi New York”, “Isaac Mizrahi” and “IsaacMizrahiLIVE”) (collectively, the “IM Trademarks”), (ii) the license agreements between IM Ready and certain third parties related to the IM Trademarks including a license agreement with QVC, Inc. (“QVC”) (the “QVC Agreement”), (iii) design agreements with Liz Claiborne, Inc. (“Liz Claiborne”) (the “LCNY Agreement”) and QVC (the “Design Agreement”) to design the “Liz Claiborne New York” brand for sale exclusively at QVC and (iv) computers, design software, and other assets related to the licensing and design of the IM Trademarks and the design of the Liz Claiborne New York brand (together with the IM Trademarks, the LCNY Agreement, the Design Agreement, the “Isaac Mizrahi Business”).  The parties consummated the asset purchase contemplated by the Purchase Agreement on September 29, 2011 (the “Closing Date”).

 

Pursuant to an agreement between IM Ready and Earthbound, LLC (“Earthbound”), a design and licensing company (the “Earthbound Agreement”), Earthbound had certain rights related to the IM Trademarks and provided certain design services for IM Ready.  In connection with the consummation of the acquisition by the Company of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, Old XCel and Earthbound entered into a contribution agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) pursuant to which, on the Closing Date, Earthbound contributed to the Company (i) the Earthbound Agreement and (ii) certain assets relating to the operation of the Isaac Mizrahi Business including archives, designs, certain intellectual property rights, software and equipment (the “Earthbound Assets”) in exchange for 944,688 shares of Common Stock and also purchased one (1) Unit in the Private Placement.  The closing of the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and Earthbound Assets occurred in conjunction with the consummation of the Merger, after which the Company terminated the Earthbound Agreement. The 944,688 shares of the Company’s Common Stock Earthbound received were valued at $3,155,258 based on $3.34 per share by virtue of a $5.01 offering price for one share of Common Stock and a warrant to purchase one-half of one share of Common Stock exercisable for $.01.

 

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, at the closing, the Buyers delivered (i) to IM Ready (a) $9,673,568 in cash, (b) a promissory note (the “Seller Note”) in the principal amount of $7,377,432 and (c) 2,759,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “IM Ready Stock Consideration”), and (ii) to an escrow agent $500,000 that the escrow agent subsequently paid to IM Ready upon the resolution of certain lease obligations (together, the “Closing Consideration”).  The Company also pre-paid $122,568 of interest on the Seller Note on the Closing Date and agreed to include up to 1,200,000 of the shares of the IM Ready Stock Consideration in this registration statement.

 

The Company accounts for purchase of the Isaac Mizrahi Business using the acquisition method of accounting.  In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations, the total purchase consideration is allocated to certain net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values as of September 29, 2011.

 

The purchase price for the acquisition is being allocated as follows:

 

Components of purchase price:

 

Cash paid at closing   $ 9,674,000  
Cash deposited with escrow agent     500,000  
3,703,688 shares of Common Stock of the Company valued at $3.34 per share     12,370,000  
Seller Note     7,377,000  
Seller Note discount (See Note 5 to the Financial Statements)     (1,740,000 )
Contingent obligations – Due to Seller     17,766,000  
Long term installment obligation (Earthbound) (See Note 4, Debt)     1,132,000  
Seller Licensee obligation assumed and paid at closing     1,500,000  
Total purchase price   $ 48,579,000  

 

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Preliminary allocation of purchase price:

 

Trademark and other related intangible assets   $ 57,596,000  
Property, furniture and equipment     1,233,000  
Deferred tax liability     (10,250,000 )
Total assets acquired   $ 48,579,000  

 

The Seller Note initially matures three years from the Closing Date (the “Maturity Date”) subject to extension as described in Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (the date to which the maturity date of the Seller Note is extended is referred to as the “Subsequent Maturity Date”).  We have the right to pay the Seller Note in cash at the Maturity Date or, subject to the following conditions, in shares of Common Stock. If we elect to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Seller Note on the Maturity Date by issuing shares of Common Stock, the number of shares issuable will be obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Seller Note then outstanding by the greater of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Maturity Date and (ii) $4.50 subject to certain adjustments; provided, however, that if the fair market value of the Common Stock is less than $4.50 as adjusted, IM Ready will have the option to extend the maturity of the Seller Note to the Subsequent Maturity Date. If the maturity date of the Seller Note is so extended, IM Ready will have the option to convert the Seller Note into Common Shares based on the greater of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Subsequent Maturity Date and (ii) $4.50, subject to certain adjustments.  If the maturity date of the Seller Note is extended, we will also have the option to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Seller Note on the Subsequent Maturity Date in cash or by issuing the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Note outstanding on the Subsequent Maturity Date by the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Maturity Date.  In addition, at any time the Seller Note is outstanding, we have the right to convert the Seller Note, in whole or in part, into the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing the principal amount to be converted by the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of the conversion, so long as the fair market value of our Common Stock is at least $4.50. The Company may only pay the Seller Note in cash if it has satisfied all of its obligations under the Loan.

 

In addition to the Closing Consideration and the escrowed funds, IM Ready will be eligible to earn additional shares of Common Stock with a value of up to $7,500,000 (the “Earn-Out Value”) each year for four consecutive years after the Closing Date, with the number of shares to be issued based upon the greater of (i) $4.50 and (ii) average stock price for the last twenty days in such period and with such earn-out payment contingent upon the Isaac Mizrahi Business achieving the “Net Royalty Income” targets set forth below during those years.  The Earn-Out Value is payable solely in stock.  Under the Purchase Agreement, “Net Royalty Income” means booked revenue for the Isaac Mizrahi Business, less the sum of advertising royalties, commissions paid to third parties, payments under royalty sharing or participation agreements, and international withholding (solely to the extent the Buyers are unable to claim a federal tax credit with respect to such international withholding) and other transfer taxes, in each case to the extent related to such booked revenue, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”); provided, however, that, (i) Net Royalty Income shall not include any deferred revenues recognized during the period for which Net Royalty Income is being calculated for which the Buyers have not received the related payment, and (ii) in the event of the termination of a license agreement with respect to the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the calculation of Net Royalty Income shall not include any revenue accelerated as a result of termination for which termination the Buyers have not received the related payment.

 

ROYALTY TARGET PERIODS  ROYALTY 
TARGET		   EARN-OUT 
VALUE		 
         
First Royalty Target Period  $16,000,000   $7,500,000 
Second Royalty Target Period  $20,000,000   $7,500,000 
Third Royalty Target Period  $22,000,000   $7,500,000 
Fourth Royalty Target Period  $24,000,000   $7,500,000 

 

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IM Ready will receive a percentage of the Earn-Out Value based upon the percentage of the actual net royalty income of the Isaac Mizrahi Business to the royalty target as set forth below.

 

APPLICABLE 
PERCENTAGE		  % OF EARN-OUT 
VALUE EARNED		 
Less than 76%   0%
76% up to 80%   40%
80% up to 90%   70%
90% up to 95%   80%
95% up to 100%   90%
100% or greater   100%

 

In addition the Company would be required to pay IM Ready $2,765,500, payable in cash or Common Stock, at the Company’s option, contingent upon the Isaac Mizrahi Business receiving aggregate net royalty income of at least $2,500,000 from QVC in the twelve month period ending on the four year anniversary of the Closing Date with such stock based upon the greater of (x) $4.50 and (y) fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of such issuance (the “QVC Earn-out’).  The fourth anniversary from the date of the closing is September 29, 2015.   The QVC Agreement current term runs through September 30, 2015.  Management has determined that is probable that the $2.5 million in net royalty income from QVC will be met.  Therefore, the Company has elected to record $2,765,500 as a long-term obligation. Management will assess no less frequently than each reporting period the status of this contingent obligation.  Any change in the expected obligation will result in an expense or income in the period in which it is determined fair market value of the carrying value has changed. 

 

Pursuant to a voting agreement entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement (the “Voting Agreement”), IM Ready agreed to appoint a person designated by the board of directors of the Company as IM Ready’s irrevocable proxy and attorney-in-fact with respect to the shares of the Common Stock received by IM Ready in connection with the Merger and held by IM Ready or its members. The board of the directors of the Company has designated Robert D’Loren to act as IM Ready’s irrevocable proxy and attorney in fact with respect to such shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to the Voting Agreement, such proxy holder is required to vote in favor of matters recommended or approved by the board of directors of the Company.

 

Pursuant to a lock-up agreement entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement (the “Lock-up Agreement”), IM Ready agreed that during the six (6) months from the Closing Date, in the case of the IM Ready Stock Consideration, or during the twelve (12) months from the date any additional shares are issued to IM Ready pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Lock-up Shares”), IM Ready may not offer, sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant an option for sale or otherwise dispose of, or transfer or grant any rights with respect to, any of the Lockup Shares, except with respect to up to 1,200,000 of the IM Ready Stock Consideration which the Company agreed to include in this Registration Statement.  With respect to any shares received by IM Ready as consideration under the Purchase Agreement, other than as IM Ready Stock Consideration, upon the expiration of the initial 12-month period, the lock-up restrictions on transfer shall lapse with respect to 25% of the Lockup Shares. Additionally, on the first day of each of the next three quarters, the restrictions on transfer shall lapse with respect to an additional 25% of the Lockup Shares.

 

Private Placement

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the Merger, we completed an offering (the “Private Placement”), raising proceeds of $4,305,000, through the sale of 8.61 units (each, a “Unit,” and collectively, the “Units”), each Unit consisting of One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares of Common Stock and the Investor Warrants to purchase Fifty Thousand (50,000) shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $0.01 per share at a price of $500,000 per Unit.  Certain executive officers and their affiliates purchased 4.25 Units in the Private Placement on the same terms and conditions as other Investors (the “Insider Participation”).

 

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The Investor Warrants may be exercised at any time upon the election of the holder, beginning on the date of issuance and ending on September 29, 2016. If, one (1) year from the date of issuance there is no effective registration statement registering the shares of Common Stock underlying the Investor Warrants, the Investor Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis. The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon the exercise of Investor Warrants are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, such as stock splits, stock dividends or our recapitalization.  In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of Investor Warrants will not be entitled to participate in the distribution of our assets.  Holders of Investor Warrants have no voting, pre-emptive, subscription or other rights of stockholders in respect of the Investor Warrants, nor shall holders thereof be entitled to receive dividends.

 

In connection with the Private Placement, we issued to the placement agent, for placement agent services and as nominal consideration, five-year warrants (the “Agent Warrants”) to purchase 9,800 shares of Common Stock, exercisable at any time at a price equal to $5.50 per share, valued at approximately $3,000.

 

Registration Requirements

 

We have agreed to register the shares of the Common Stock and 100% of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Investor Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) issued in connection with the Private Placement, on a registration statement to be filed with the Commission within sixty (60) days after the final closing of the Private Placement (the “Filing Date”) and keep the registration statement effective until the earlier of (i) September 29, 2012 or (ii) until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold, or may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144.

 

The Agent Warrants have registration rights similar to the registration rights afforded to the Investors.

 

We agreed to include up to 1,200,000 of the shares of Common Stock issuable to IM Ready on the Closing Date in the Registration Statement.

 

We granted to the holders of the Lender Warrants (as defined herein) piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Lender Warrants and the shares issuable upon exercise of the Lender Warrants were included in the Registration Statement.

 

We have included all of the above referenced securities in the Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

We have granted to certain of the executive officers pursuant to their individual employment agreements piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the executive warrants.  These individuals have, however, agreed not to include such shares in the Registration Statement.

 

Term Loan

 

On September 29, 2011, IM Brands, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a five year senior secured facility (the “Loan”) with Midmarket Capital Partners, LLC (“MidMarket”) in the aggregate principal amount of $13,500,000. The Loan is secured by all of the assets and membership interests of IM Brands, and is guaranteed by the Company.  The Company paid a closing fee of $405,000 to MidMarket, which was equal to three percent (3%) of the committed amount.

 

The principal amount of the Loan is payable quarterly as follows:  0% until January 5, 2013, 2.5% on January 5, 2013 through October 5, 2013,; 3.75% on January 5, 2014 through October 5, 2014; 6.25% on January 5, 2015 through October 5, 2015; 12.5% on January 5, 2016 through the maturity date, which is the date that is 5 years after the closing date.

 

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Annual principal obligations are as follows:

 

  Year Ending December 31,      
2012   $ -  
2013     1,350,000  
2014     2,025,000  
2015     3,375,000  
2016     6,750,000  
Total   $ 13,500,000  

 

The interest rate on the loan is a fixed rate of 8.5%, payable in cash.

 

Optional Prepayment.  IM Brands may prepay the Loan in whole or in part in increments of $500,000, provided that IM Brands pay the following premiums in connection with the prepayment:

 

Period  Applicable Premium 
First year following the Closing   3%
Second year following the Closing   2%
Third year following the Closing   1%
Fourth year following the Closing   0%

 

Mandatory Prepayments.   IM Brands is required to prepay the Loan under the following conditions:  (1) if certain indebtedness is incurred by the Company; (2) if IM Brands undertakes certain asset sales or sales of capital stock, with limited exceptions; or (3) if there is a payment of the benefits of a life insurance policy for Isaac Mizrahi held by the Company.

 

Excess Cash Flow Sweep.   In addition to the Mandatory Prepayments described above, if for any fiscal year ending on or subsequent to December 31, 2012, there is excess cash flow (as defined in the Loan agreements) for such year, then on the payment date following the end of such year, IM Brands is required to make a principal payment on the Loan equal to the lesser of (i) 50% of the excess cash flow or (ii) the positive result of the unencumbered cash and cash equivalents of the Company minus the greater of (x) the Excess Liquidity required to be maintained by IM Brands and (y) $3,000,000.

 

Lender Warrants. At the closing of the Loan, the Company issued to MidMarket seven year warrants (the “Lender Warrants”) to purchase 364,428 shares of the Common Stock, representing 5% of the Common Stock outstanding as of the Closing Date on a fully diluted basis.  The Lender Warrants have an exercise price of $0.01 and contain a cashless exercise provision.  The Company granted to the holders of the Lender Warrants piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Lender Warrants.  The carrying value of the Loan has been reduced by the market value of the Lender Warrants, equal to $3.33 (market value $3.34 less exercise price $0.01) per share.  The Company used the Black-Scholes method to determine valuation.  The amount of the original loan discount is $1,214,000, resulting in an initial net loan balance of $12,286,000.  The Loan balance as of December 31, 2011 is $12,344,022.

 

Financial Covenants.  So long as the Loan remains unpaid or unsatisfied, IM Brands shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

1.Minimum Liquidity .  Permit Excess Liquidity to be less than the amount set forth below during each applicable period set forth below:

 

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Fiscal Quarter  Excess Liquidity 
September 29, 2011 through December 31, 2011  $1,500,000 
January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012  $1,750,000 
April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012  $2,250,000 
July 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012  $2,750,000 
October 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013  $3,000,000 
July 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013  $3,250,000 
October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014  $3,500,000 
April 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014  $3,750,000 
July 1, 2014 and thereafter  $4,000,000 

 

2.Capital Expenditures .  Permit the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures to exceed $400,000 (whether or not financed) per year.

 

3.Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio .  Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates (or for the periods) set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates (or for the periods) below to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Trailing Four Fiscal Quarters Ending  Minimum Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio		 
September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012   1.90 to 1.00 
March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013   1.60 to 1.00 
 September 30, 2013, December 31, 2013, March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014   1.50 to 1.00 
December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015   1.30 to 1.00 
June 30, 2015 and thereafter   1.15 to 1.00 

 

4.Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio .  Permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates (or for the periods) set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates (or for  the periods) below to be greater than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Trailing Four Fiscal Quarters Ending  Maximum
Consolidated
Leverage Ratio		 
September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012   3.50 to 1.00 
March 31, 2013   3.30 to 1.00 
June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013   3.00 to 1.00 
December 31, 2013   2.75 to 1.00 
March 31, 2014   2.25 to 1.00 
June 30, 2014 and thereafter   2.00 to 1.00 

 

5. Minimum Consolidated EBITDA .  Permit Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates below to be less than the amount set forth opposite such quarter in the table below; provided that for the fiscal quarters ended on December 31, 2011, March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, such periods shall be one fiscal quarter, two fiscal quarters and three fiscal quarters, respectively:

 

Fiscal Quarter  Consolidated EBITDA 
December 31, 2011  $250,000 
March 31, 2012  $1,250,000 
June 30, 2012  $2,500,000 
September 30, 2012  $4,000,000 
December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013  $4,250,000 
June 30, 2013  $4,500,000 
September 30, 2013  $4,750,000 
December 31, 2013 and thereafter  $5,000,000 

 

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Overview of the Business

 

The Company’s primary business is the design, licensing and marketing of the Isaac Mizrahi trademarks and brands including “Isaac Mizrahi New York”, “Isaac Mizrahi”, “Isaac Mizrahi Jeans”, “M.” and “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” (the “Isaac Mizrahi Brands”) and the design business related to the Liz Claiborne New York brand (the “LCNY Brand”). The Company’s focus is on licensing its owned brands for promotion and distribution through an Omnichannel retail sales strategy including distribution through Direct-Response Television (i.e. QVC), the Internet, and traditional bricks-and-mortar retail channels. The Company operates in a “working capital light” business model, licensing the Isaac Mizrahi Brands through its wholly-owned subsidiary IM Brands, LLC and generating royalty and design revenues through licensing and other agreements with wholesale manufacturers, sourcing and design companies, and retailers. The Company does not currently plan to manufacture products, or open bricks-and-mortar retail stores. By partnering with licensing partners who have significant expertise in designing, sourcing, and selling products through wholesale and retail distribution channels, the Company is able to focus on licensing its brands, providing design direction and in certain cases, product designs to its licensees, coordinating merchandising among its licensees, and marketing through social media marketing and other conventional means (advertising, public relations). This model minimizes the need for the Company to spend significant amounts in capital expenditures or inventory purchases related to its brands. The Company’s primary focus is on growing its revenues related to the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and LCNY Brand, but in the future may acquire and/or enter into licensing agreements with other brands in order to leverage its licensing, design, and/or marketing expertise to grow its revenues through its Omnichannel retail sales strategy.

 

Licensing Business

 

Our licensing activities focus on licensing the Isaac Mizrahi Brands to wholesale manufacturers, sourcing and design companies, and retailers for promotion and distribution through an Omnichannel retail sales strategy including Direct-Response Television (i.e. QVC), the Internet, and traditional bricks-and-mortar retail channels. In connection with such licensing activities, we provide design support to licensees of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands where appropriate, and coordinate merchandising between our various licensees. We also conduct traditional marketing, advertising, public relations, and social media marketing campaigns for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, and coordinate such activities with our licensees as we determine to be appropriate.

 

QVC Licensing Agreement.  Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, IM Brands, the Company acquired a direct-to-retail license agreement with QVC that was entered into in January 2009 and amended and restated on September 29, 2011 in connection with the Company’s acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands (as amended, the “QVC Agreement”).  Pursuant to the QVC Agreement, IM Brands designs, and QVC sources and sells, various products under the “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” brand.  The IsaacMizrahiLIVE licensing program launched on QVC in 2010, and includes the sale of products across various categories including apparel, footwear, handbags, jewelry, accessories, kitchen, and home goods through QVC’s television media and related Internet sites primarily in the United States.

 

Pursuant to the QVC Agreement, IM Brands has granted to QVC and its affiliates the exclusive, worldwide right to promote IsaacMizrahiLIVE products and the right to use and publish the related trademarks, service marks, copyrights, designs, logos and other intellectual property rights owned, used, licensed and/or developed by IM Brands for an initial term lasting until September 30, 2015 (with automatic one-year renewal periods unless terminated by either party).  IM Brands has also granted to QVC and its affiliates, during the same period, exclusive, worldwide rights to promote third party vendor “co-branded products” that, in addition to bearing and being marketed in connection with the trademarks and logos of such third party vendors, also bear or are marketed in connection with the IsaacMizrahiLIVE trademark and related logo.  Finally, in connection with the foregoing and during the same period, QVC and its subsidiaries have the exclusive, worldwide right to use Isaac Mizrahi’s name, likeness, image, voice and performance to promote IsaacMizrahiLIVE products and co-branded products.  QVC is permitted during this period to promote products that are in competition with IsaacMizrahiLIVE products and co-branded products.

 

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In exchange for the rights granted to QVC pursuant to the QVC Agreement, QVC is obliged to pay to IM Brands, on a quarterly basis, royalty payments based upon the “Net Retail Sales” of IsaacMizrahiLIVE products and co-branded products.  Under the QVC Agreement, “Net Retail Sales” means the aggregate amount of all revenue generated through the sale of IsaacMizrahiLIVE products or co-branded products by QVC and its subsidiaries under the QVC Agreement, excluding freight, shipping and handling charges, customer returns, and sales, use or other taxes.

 

Notwithstanding IM Brands’ grant of worldwide promotion rights to QVC, IM Brands may, with the permission of QVC, sell any of the IsaacMizrahiLIVE products to “Prestige Retailers” or via “Company Media” in exchange for making reverse royalty payments to QVC based on the net retail sales of such products to Prestige Retailers or via Company Media.  Under the QVC Agreement, (i) “Prestige Retailers” refers to the stores and the respective internet websites of high-end Brick and Mortar Retailers (companies whose primary means of deriving revenue is marketing and selling consumer products to end-users of such consumer products at a physical location) such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Macy’s Department Stores, but excluding discount divisions of such companies and any mass merchants such as drugstores, warehouse stores and companies such as Sears, JC Penney, Target, Walmart and Kmart; and (ii) “Company Media” refers to “Isaac Mizrahi” and “Isaac Mizrahi New York”-branded brick and mortar retail stores and internet websites, if any. The Company does not currently sell any of the IsaacMizrahiLIVE products through any of these distribution channels.

 

Under the QVC Agreement, IM Brands may also earn revenue from (i) the sale, license, consignment or any other form of distribution of any products, bearing, marketed in connection with or otherwise associated with IM Brands’ trademarks and brands (including the Isaac Mizrahi Brands”) and/or (ii) the licensing of any and all intellectual property rights with respect to any and all products, including IsaacMizrahiLIVE products, bearing, marketed in connection with or otherwise associated with IM Brands’ trademarks and brands; provided that it pays specified portions of the revenues earned from the foregoing sale activities to QVC.

 

IM Brands is restricted from selling products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands or any of its other trademarks and brands (including the trademarks, copyrights, designs, logos and related intellectual property themselves) to Kmart, Walmart, Sears Roebuck & Co., or a direct competitor of QVC (defined as any entity other than QVC, including HSN, Inc. and Value Vision Media, Inc., whose primary means of deriving revenue is the transmission of Direct-Response Television programs, including the Home Shopping Network, ShopNBC, America's Store and Shop at Home Network).  To the extent that brands or other products (other than those under the IM Trademarks) are held directly by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company other than IM Brands, however, such brands or products may be sold to any Direct-Response Television retailer or other competitor of QVC.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the QVC Agreement provided for QVC removing certain restrictions that it had on the IM Trademarks (aside from the “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” trademarks) prior to the Merger; the payment to QVC of certain amounts on the closing of the Merger and related transactions as satisfaction of certain amounts that IM Ready and Earthbound owed to QVC; and QVC permitting the Company to promote its bricks-and-mortar collections on QVC’s television program subject to certain terms and restrictions. The Company also agreed to provide QVC with a key-man life insurance policy to provide payment to QVC in the event of a death of Isaac Mizrahi.

 

At the time of the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the QVC Agreement was the only business agreement under which the Isaac Mizrahi Brands were generating licensing revenue.  For the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, the original agreement with QVC accounted for 62% and 46%, respectively, of the Isaac Mizrahi Business’s revenue. For the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2012, the QVC Agreement represented 67% and 65%, respectively, of the Company’s revenues.

 

Other Licensing Agreements ..  As of December 31, 2011, the Company entered into 18 additional licensing agreements related to the Isaac Mizrahi Brands. The terms of the agreements generally range from three to six years with renewal options. These other license agreements represented approximately 10% and 12% of the Company’s total revenues for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2012, respectively. As of June 26, 2012, the number of additional license agreements grew to 32, with license agreements in effect for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands for over 94 categories, including the following categories:

 

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·Footwear

·Handbags, Luggage, Backpacks, and Women’s Small Leather Goods

·Fragrance, Home Fragrance, and Bath and Body
·Women’s Denim (including jeans, and denim-related knit tops, woven tops and bottoms)
·Women’s and juniors sportswear, dresses, suits and active wear
·Men’s Shirts and Ties
·Timepieces
·Fine Jewelry
·Costume Jewelry
·Sunwear, Eyewear and Reading Glasses
· Men’s and Women’s Hats
·Socks and Hosiery
·Women’s and Men’s belts; Men’s small leather goods
·Women’s Intimate Apparel including Shapewear, Sleepwear, and Loungewear
·Infant Apparel
·Women’s and Children’s Outerwear
·Bridal and Bridal Accessories
·Home - Dinnerware including accessories and mugs (in ceramic, stoneware, porcelain, Melamine and Melacore), Glassware, Flatware, Cutlery, Cookware, Bakeware, Kitchen Gadgets and Melamine
·Home - Picture Frames, Paperweights, Journals
·Home - Window Treatments (Curtains, Panels, Valences, Window Scarves, Kitchen Curtains and Decorative Window Hardware)
·Home – Bedding, Towels, and other Bath Linens
·Home – Paper and Plastic Plates, Paper and Plastic Serveware and Napkins
·Home – Soft Kitchen, Closet Storage Devices, Hangers, Laundry Bags, BBQ Tools
·Home - Furniture, Rugs, Accent Lighting
· Home – High-End Picture Frames and Collectibles
·Hydration Products, Shopping Bags, Diaper Bags, Light Luggage
 ·Hotel amenities
 ·Travel Locks and Accessories, Blow Dryers, Hair Straighteners and Hair Accessories
·Audio Products (Headphones and Ear-Buds), iPad and iPod Cases, USB Devices, SmartPhone Chargers and Cords
·Digital Cameras and Camera Cases
·Music Compilations
 ·Pet Products for Dogs and Cats

 

The Company is also in negotiations and/or discussions with licensees to license the Isaac Mizrahi Brands in additional categories. In certain cases, the Company has engaged licensing agents to assist in the procurement of such licenses for which IM Brands or the licensees pay such agents fees based upon a percentage of the net sales of licensed products by such licensees. While many of the new and proposed licensing agreements will likely require the Company to provide seasonal design guidance, most of our new and prospective licensing partners have their own design staff, and the Company therefore expects to have low incremental overhead related to expanding our licensing business. The Company will endeavor, where possible, to require licensees to provide guaranteed minimum royalties under their license agreements.

 

The Company’s licensees plan to sell licensed products through bricks-and-mortar retailers, internet websites, and in certain cases will supply products to QVC for sale through its Direct-Response Television programs and/or through its internet website. Based upon the time required to design, market, and produce products for sale through these distribution channels, the Company does not expect any of these licensees to sell significant volumes of licensed products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands prior to the Fall 2012 season. However, based upon guaranteed minimum royalties required under many of the license agreements, the Company has recognized and expects to continue to recognize revenue related to the licensing of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands prior to the sale of licensed products by its licensees. The Company also intends to enter into distribution agreements and/or licensing agreements with international partners through which its licensees can sell products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands internationally.

 

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Design Services

 

The Company provides design services to certain of its licensees, and in some cases, to select brands owned by third parties. The Company intends to provide seasonal design guidance (such as style guides) and product approvals for its licensees, but in general with the exception of the QVC Agreement and LCNY Agreement, the design of products is expected to be completed by the licensees.  Under the QVC Agreement, the Company is required to provide product designs to QVC for the “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” brand.

 

Liz Claiborne New York Design Services Agreement.  In connection with the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the Company assumed and entered into an amended and restated agreement (the “LCNY Agreement”) with Liz Claiborne and QVC.  Pursuant to the LCNY Agreement, the Company provides design services to Liz Claiborne for the Liz Claiborne New York brand, which is sold exclusively through QVC.

 

Pursuant to the LCNY Agreement, Isaac Mizrahi or another spokesperson agreeable to the Company, QVC and Liz Claiborne (any such person, the “Designer”), must be made available to act as creative director for the LCNY line of products and for print or other media campaigns (Isaac Mizrahi does not currently promote the products or line, but QVC and Liz Claiborne may require that a Designer promote the products on QVC in the future).  As creative director, the Designer works with and directs a LCNY design staff employed by the Company.  The initial term of the LCNY Agreement lasts until July 31, 2013 (with five automatic, one-year renewal periods thereafter unless the LCNY Agreement is terminated by either party or Liz Claiborne’s separate license agreement with QVC is not renewed or otherwise terminates).

 

The Company develops a design calendar for each season for the development of each line of products for the LCNY Brand, working jointly with QVC and Liz Claiborne.  For each product line, the Company must: (i) develop concepts, ideas and inspirations; (ii) create, develop and provide design sketches and prototypes, including packaging and labels; and (iii) refresh product lines and formulate additional designs as required by Liz Claiborne and/or QVC during the selling stages.

 

The Company has absolute approval over any use of the Designer’s name and/or likeness, but it has otherwise granted to Liz Claiborne all rights in any works (or contributions to works) comprised in design or advertising materials that are used in connection with products under the LCNY Brand, other than the trademark, name, image, or likeness of the Designer.  The Company has also granted to Liz Claiborne the right to use the Designer’s name, signature, photograph, voice or other sound effects, likeness, personality, endorsement, biography and statements in connection with the design, manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, marketing and advertising in any media of the products under the LCNY Brand.  Additionally, Liz Claiborne and QVC may use the Isaac Mizrahi name, image, or likeness to promote the role of the Company in the design of products under the LCNY Brand, but may not use the Isaac Mizrahi name, image or likeness as part of the Liz Claiborne New York label itself.  Under the LCNY Agreement, the Company has agreed that neither it nor the Designer may, directly or indirectly, associate or affiliate the Designer’s name or trademark with Wal-Mart, Kmart and Sears.

 

In consideration for the design services and all other rights provided by the Company to Liz Claiborne pursuant to the LCNY Agreement, Liz Claiborne is obligated to pay to the Company 25% of the royalty revenues Liz Claiborne receives from QVC (pursuant to a separate license agreement by and between Liz Claiborne and QVC) for sale of products through QVC-owned, -operated and -branded Direct-Response Television programs, website and retail stores.  In the event that Liz Claiborne uses the design and technical specifications of products for merchandise that is sold by Liz Claiborne to international customers or through its own retail stores, the Company is entitled to additional royalty fees with respect to such merchandise to be agreed with Liz Claiborne.  In addition to compensation to be paid by Liz Claiborne to the Company as described above, Liz Claiborne is also obliged to pay to the Company twenty-five percent (25%) of the royalty revenues Liz Claiborne receives from Elizabeth Arden during the term of the LCNY Agreement for fragrance products bearing the Liz Claiborne New York label.  Finally, if Liz Claiborne enters into any new licenses with respect to the Liz Claiborne New York label during the term of the LCNY Agreement, Liz Claiborne has agreed to pay to the Company 25% of the royalty revenues Liz Claiborne receives from such new licenses.

 

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As consideration for the termination and replacement of a previous design agreement between IM Ready and Liz Claiborne, the Isaac Mizrahi Business received a one-time fee of $9,000,000, which was recorded as a deferred royalty payment.  This amount was being amortized by IM Ready on a straight line basis over the life of the LCNY Agreement. Included in revenues of IM Ready for the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010 is amortized revenue of $1.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively.  Following the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and LCNY Agreement, the Company is not receiving the benefits of the one-time payment and will not record any deferred royalty payment as a result of the one-time payment.

 

For the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, the LCNY Agreement accounted for 8% and 4%, respectively, of the Isaac Mizrahi Business’s revenue. For the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2012, the LCNY Agreement represented 13% and 13%, respectively, of the Company’s revenues.

 

IM Brands also assumed an agreement with QVC pursuant to which IM Brands receives an annual design fee from QVC for the term of the LCNY Agreement (the “Design Agreement”), which fee is intended to cover certain design expenses of the Company related to the LCNY Brand.  The Design Agreement accounted for approximately 9% and 11% of total revenue for the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively. For the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2012 the Design Agreement represented 10% and 9%, respectively, of the Company’s revenues.

 

In order to provide the design services for the Isaac Mizrahi Business (including the QVC Agreement) and under the LCNY Agreement and Design Agreement, the Company employs a design team.  Although the Company does not currently expect to offer design services to third parties other than under the LCNY Agreement and QVC Agreement, and the limited design services it provides to other licensees of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, given the Company’s design capabilities and relationships with QVC, the Company may consider appropriate opportunities to leverage its resources to provide design services or other resources to selected brands that are not owned by the Company in the future.

 

Future Brands

 

The Company may acquire or enter into licensing or other agreements for brands in the future that it believes it may be able to generate revenues through its Omnichannel retail sales strategy by leveraging its licensing, design, and/or marketing expertise. In the event the Company does decide to enter into a transaction with other brands, the Company will analyze such potential transactions for their growth potential, ability to sell products across platforms, fit with the Company’s existing business and the economic and strategic impact on the Company.  The Company would also seek to leverage its existing operational infrastructure to operate any acquired business or intellectual property, and may need to hire additional design, marketing or other personnel or incur additional expenses to operate the business. Each acquisition opportunity will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.  Based on its current cash position, a transaction may require the Company to raise additional equity financing, which may be dilutive, or debt financing, which may impose operating restrictions on the Company, unless substantially all of the consideration paid for a transaction is paid through the issuance of capital stock or a note to the other party, or such transaction does not require any up-front capital to be paid to the other party.

 

Marketing

 

We believe that marketing is a critical element to maximize brand value to our licensees and the Company.  Therefore, we provide social media marketing and other marketing and public relations support for the Isaac Mizrahi Brand.

 

Given the Company’s Omnichannel retail sales strategy focusing on the sale of branded products through various distribution channels (including Internet, Direct-Response Television, and traditional bricks-and-mortar Sales Channels, our marketing efforts currently focus on a 360-degree marketing program featuring social media campaigns, appearances, and digital content in order to drive retail sales of product and consumer awareness across our various sales distribution channels. As such, our marketing is currently conducted primarily through (i) Twitter campaigns both through Isaac Mizrahi personally and by our employees, (ii) Facebook campaigns, and (iii) blogs, videos, and other internet content that are all updated regularly. Our efforts also include promoting Isaac Mizrahi as a brand and personality through various media including television (Project Runway All-Stars, Live with Kelly), design for performances, and other events. We also work with QVC to leverage QVC’s Internet resources including discussion boards, Facebook and Twitter campaigns, and QVC’s website. In order to drive smartphone and tablet sales of IsaacMizrahiLIVE products, QVC has developed an application for the I-Phone and I-Pad to enable customers to browse and purchase products under the IsaacMizrahiLIVE brand.

 

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We endeavor to require licensees where possible to contribute an advertising royalty to IM Brands under their license agreements, and will use such monies to further promote the Isaac Mizrahi Brands as we deem appropriate. Certain of IM Brands’ licensees may be required to, or elect to, provide advertising or marketing for the IM Trademarks under their license agreements with IM Brands. In most cases, we will work with our licensees on such marketing activities as appropriate. If we acquire additional brands, we would seek to expand our marketing efforts to address the specific needs of such acquired brands.

 

Competition

 

The Isaac Mizrahi Brands are, and additional brands that the Company may acquire will be, subject to extensive competition from various domestic and foreign brands.  Each of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, the LCNY Brand and any acquired brand will likely have many competitors within each of its specific distribution channels that span a broad variety of product categories, including the apparel, footwear, accessories, home furnishings and décor, food products, fragrance, home fragrance and bath & beauty, consumer electronics, and sporting goods industries, among others. These competitors have the ability to compete with the Company and the Company’s licensees in terms of fashion, quality, price, products and/or marketing.

 

To the extent the Company seeks to acquire additional brands, it will face competition to retain licenses and to complete the acquisitions of additional brands.  The ownership, licensing, and management of brands is becoming a more widely utilized method of managing consumer brands as production continues to become commoditized and manufacturing capacity increases worldwide.  The Company will face competition from numerous direct competitors, including publicly and privately-held companies, including traditional apparel and consumer brand companies, other brand management companies and private equity groups.  Companies that traditionally focused on wholesale manufacturing and sourcing models are also exploring licensing as a way of growing their businesses through strategic licensing partners and direct-to-retail licensing arrangements.  Finally, the retailers and manufacturers to which the Company currently licenses (or may in the future license) its brands may decide to develop or purchase brands rather than entering into license agreements with the Company.

 

Because the Company has recently entered into the brand ownership, marketing, licensing and design business and because many of its competitors have significantly more cash and revenues than it, the Company must work to differentiate itself from its direct and indirect competitors and successfully compete for market share with the brands it owns and for future acquisitions.  The Company believes that its management team (including its managers’ and directors’ historical track records and relationships within the industry) as well as its operating strategy of licensing brands with significant media presence in its Omnichannel retail sales strategy across Direct-Response Television, bricks-and-mortar and internet retail channels will help differentiate itself in an increasingly crowded competitive landscape.

 

Trademarks

 

The Company, through IM Brands, acquired the Isaac Mizrahi Brands which includes the trademarks and brands “Isaac Mizrahi”, “Isaac Mizrahi New York”, “Isaac Mizrahi Jeans”, “M.” and “IsaacMizrahiLIVE”. These trademarks and associated marks are registered or pending registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in block letter and/or logo formats, as well as in combination with a variety of ancillary marks for use with respect to a variety of product categories, including apparel, footwear and various other goods and services, including in some cases, home furnishings and decor. The Company intends to renew these registrations as appropriate prior to expiration. In addition, the Company registers its trademarks in certain other countries and regions around the world as it deems appropriate.

 

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The Company and its licensees do not presently have a material amount of revenue from either the licensing of the Company’s trademarks internationally or the sale of products under its trademarks internationally.  If the Company or a licensee begins, or plans, to license or sell products under the Company’s trademarks in international territories, the Company will seek to register its trademarks in such international territories as it deems appropriate based upon factors including the revenue potential, prospective market and trademark laws in such territory or territories.

 

Generally, the Company is primarily responsible for monitoring and protecting its trademarks around the world. The Company engages the services of legal counsel to maintain and monitor its existing trademarks, and may register its existing trademarks or new trademarks in various territories around the world based upon its current and planned business strategy. Additionally, the Company seeks to require its licensing partners to advise the Company of any violations of its trademark rights of which its licensing partners become aware.  The Company monitors on an ongoing basis unauthorized use and filings of the Company’s trademarks, and the Company relies primarily upon a combination of federal, state, and local laws, as well as contractual restrictions to protect its intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally.

 

Employees

 

As of May 21, 2012, we had 32 full-time employees and one part-time employee.

 

Properties

 

We do not own any real property. We currently lease and maintain our corporate offices and operations located at 475 Tenth Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10018.   Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we assumed a lease for such office of approximately 18,500 square feet of office space which lease is guaranteed by IM Brands.  Our base office rental expense on a monthly basis is approximately $44,000, plus annual increases to $51,076 during the last year of the lease, taxes and other fees payable under the lease. We provided a cash security deposit pursuant to the terms of the office lease for $175,000. In the event that Isaac Mizrahi ceases to be an employee, we may be required to increase the amount of the security deposit or stand-by letter of credit in an amount equal to up to six months of the then-current rent in exchange for the landlord removing Isaac Mizrahi as guarantor under the office lease. The office lease term expires in June 2016. We believe that this space will be sufficient to meet our current operating needs.

 

Government Regulation

 

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting our business, including those promulgated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Textile Fiber Product Identification Act, the rules and regulations of the Consumer Products Safety Commission and various environmental laws and regulations. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable governmental regulations.

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

To the best of our knowledge, there are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or of which any of our property is the subject.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATIONS

 

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements that are not historical facts contained in this prospectus are forward-looking statements that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict and many of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks are detailed in the Risk Factors Section of this prospectus. The words “believe”, “anticipate,” “expect”, “confident”, “project”, “provide”, “plan”, “likely”, “future”, “ongoing”, “intend”, may”, should”, would”, “could”,  “guidance” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

 

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Overview

 

On September 29, 2011 (the “Closing Date”), the Company acquired the Isaac Mizrahi Business in connection with the Merger and the Short Form Merger (collectively, the “Transaction”). The Company engages in the design, licensing, and sale of various products (through its licensing partners) under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands through an Omnichannel retail sales strategy, and promotes the Isaac Mizrahi Brands through a 360-degree marketing strategy.  The Company operates in a “working capital light” business model, licensing the Isaac Mizrahi Brands through its wholly-owned subsidiary IM Brands and generating royalty and design revenues through licensing and other agreements with wholesale manufacturers, sourcing and design companies, and retailers. Prior to our acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the business was a division of IM Ready.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus are as of, or for, one of two periods, the Company (the “Successor”) that consists of the period following the closing date of the Transaction (the “Closing Date”) (September 29, 2011) and of the Isaac Mizrahi Business (the “Predecessor”) for the periods prior to the Closing Date. All statements related to calendar year 2010 are considered Predecessor periods. For calendar year 2011 the consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of cash flows and statement of stockholders equity are presented for the Predecessor period prior to the Closing Date (January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011), and for the Successor period including and following the Closing Date (September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011).

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We review all significant estimates affecting the financial statements on a recurring basis and record the effect of any adjustments when necessary.

 

In connection with our licensing model, we have entered into various trademark license agreements that provide revenues based on minimum royalties and additional revenues based on a percentage of defined sales. Minimum royalty revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over each period, as defined, in each license agreement. Royalties exceeding the defined minimum amounts are recognized as income during the period corresponding to the licensee's sales. Design service fees are recorded and recognized in accordance with the terms and conditions of each design fee contract, including the Isaac Mizrahi Business meeting its obligations and providing the relevant services under each contract.  Generally this is recording on a straight line basis each base fee as stated in each design fee service agreement for the covered period and, if applicable  recognizing additional payments in the period that it applies to.  The rationale for recording design service fee income on the straight-line is based on annual even fixed payments.

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718 by recognizing the fair value of stock-based compensation in the consolidated statement of operations.  The fair value of the Company’s stock option awards are estimated using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions and elections including expected stock price volatility and the estimated life of each award. In addition, the calculation of compensation costs requires that the Company estimate the number of awards that will be forfeited during the vesting period. The fair value of stock-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the awards.  For stock-based awards that vest based on performance conditions (e.g. achievement of certain milestones), expense is recognized when it is probable that the condition will be met.

 

Other significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Three Months ended March 31, 2012 compared with the Predecessor Quarter

 

The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations is based on the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus consisting of the three months ended January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012 (the “Current Quarter” or the “Successor Quarter”) and of the Predecessor for the period January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011 (“Predecessor Quarter”). The Current Quarter results are compared with the Predecessor Quarter on an unaudited pro-forma basis (the “Prior Year Quarter”), as presented in the table below.

  

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Pro-forma Statements of Operations of the Predecessor

 

    Successor     Predecessor  
    Three
Months
ended
March 31, 
2012 		    Pro-forma
Three
Months
ended
March 31,
2011 		    Adjustments     Three
Months
ended
March 31,
2011 		 
                         
Licensing & design revenues   $ 2,903,000     $ 2,895,000     $ -     $ 2,895,000  
Other operating income     11,000       -       -       -  
Total revenues     2,914,000       2,895,000       -       2,895,000  
Direct licensing costs     34,000       -       -       -  
Net licensing & design revenues     2,880,000       2,895,000       -       2,895,000  
                                 
Expenses:                                
Design and marketing     1,033,000       925,000       -       925,000  
General and administrative     922,000       542,000       -       542,000  
Depreciation and amortization     209,000       202,000 [1]       132,000       70,000  
Stock based compensation     28,000       -       -       -  
Total Expenses     2,192,000       1,669,000       132,000       1,537,000  
                                 
Operating income (loss)     688,000       1,226,000       (132,000 )     1,358,000  
                                 
Finance costs                                
Interest expenses – term debt     286,000       286,000 [2]     286,000       -  
Other interest and finance costs     257,000       257,000 [2]     257,000       -  
Total finance costs     543,000               543,000          
                                 
Net income (loss) before income tax provision     145,000       683,000       (675,000 )     1,358,000  
                                 
Income tax provision (benefit)     (17,000 )     246,000 [3]     192,000       54,000  
                                 
Net income (loss)   $ 162,000     $ 437,000     $ (867,000 )   $ 1,304,000  
                                 
                                 
Earnings per Share                                
Basic   $ 0.03     $ 0.08                  
                                 
Diluted   $ 0.02     $ 0.07                  
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                                
Basic     5,810,180       5,743,319 [4]                
                                 
Diluted     6,556,173       6,539,312 [5]                

 

33
 

 

[1] This adjustment assumes the Company amortized intangible assets since January 1, 2011.

[2] This adjustment is designed to state interest expense and other finance costs as if acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and related refinancing occurred January 1, 2011.

[3] Income tax expense is adjusted to reflect an effective 36% income tax rate.

[4] The weighted average number of basic common shares presented on a pro-forma basis for the Prior Year Quarter is equal to the number of shares that were outstanding immediately after the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business.

[5] The weighted average number of common shares, on a diluted basis presented on a pro-forma basis for the Prior Year Quarter is equal to the number of shares that were outstanding immediately after the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business plus options and warrants that could be exercised into additional common shares measured at immediately after the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business.

 

Net Licensing and Other Revenue . Total revenues for the Current Quarter increased to $2,914,000 from $2,895,000 for the Prior Year Quarter. In the Current Quarter, the increase in revenue was primarily related to a combined increase in our QVC business and Liz Claiborne business of $250,000 and revenue from other license agreements of $375,000. These increases were partly off-set by recognized revenues of $587,000 in the Prior Year Quarter from amortization of a one-time payment received by the Predecessor prior to 2011 and not recognized by the Successor. The Company incurred direct licensing costs of $34,000 during the Current Quarter whereby the Predecessor did not incur these costs in the Prior Year Quarter. The net result was a decreased in net licensing and design revenues by $15,000.

 

Operating Expenses. Operating expense totaled $2,192,000 in the Current Quarter compared to $1,669,000 in the Prior Year Quarter. The increase of approximately $523,000 was primarily driven by (i) an increase in general and administrative expenses of $380,000 mostly relating to executive management salaries and costs associated with being public, (ii) stock based compensation expense of $28,000 and (iii) an increase in design and marketing expenses of $108,000. Design and marketing cost as a percentage of net revenues increased slightly to 35% in the Current Quarter compared to 32% for the Prior Year Quarter.

 

Operating Income. Operating income for the Current Quarter decreased to $688,000 compared to $1,226,000 from the Prior Year Quarter. This decrease in our operating income is primarily the result of the increase in operating expenses as noted above.

 

Interest and Finance Costs - Interest and finance costs remained even for the Current Quarter compared to the Prior Year Quarter, although on an actual basis the Predecessor had no interest or other finance costs.

 

Provision for income taxes – Income taxes were higher for the Prior Year Quarter by $263,000. The Current Quarter inclusive of a deferred tax benefit of $22,000 has an effective tax rate of (12%), whereas the Prior Year Quarter has an effective tax rate of 36%. The primary difference is The Current Quarter has a tax benefit from the effect of a state and local rate allocation change resulting in a (50%) adjustment to the effective tax rate by virtue of applying the rate differential to the opening net deferred tax liability.

 

Net Income . Our net income was $162,000 in the Current Quarter, compared to net income of $437,000 in the Prior Year Quarter, as a result of the factors discussed above.

 

2010 compared to 2011

 

The following discussion and analysis of our result of operations is based on the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, consisting of the Company (the “Successor”) for the period including and following the Closing Date (September 29, 2011) and of the Isaac Mizrahi Business (the “Predecessor”) for the periods prior to the Closing Date. All references to calendar year 2010 and the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 are considered Predecessor Periods. The period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 is considered the Successor Period.

 

34
 

 

·The Company had a net loss of $0.869 million for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011. The Predecessor had net income $4.173 million and $4.627 million for the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

·The Company had an operating loss of $0.513 million for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011. The Predecessor had operating income of $4.348 million and $4.847 million for the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

An additional discussion is presented for the comparison of results from operations of 2011 unaudited pro-forma and results from operations of 2010 unaudited pro-forma for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

·The Company presents pro-forma net income of $1.172 million and $1.418 million for the years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

·The Company presents pro-forma operating income of $3.939 million and $4.318 million the years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

2011 Consolidated Statement of Operations (Successor Period)

 

Licensing and Other Revenue. Licensing and design fee revenue for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 (the “Successor Period”) was $2.898 million. The Company incurred direct licensing costs consisting of royalty participation and 3rd party commissions of $0.252, resulting in net licensing and design revenues of $2.646 million.  Revenues from QVC for the Successor Period were $1.936 million, or 67% of revenues. Revenues from LCNY Agreement and the Design Agreement for the Successor Period were $0.383 million and $0.282 million, or 13% and 10% of revenues, respectively. Revenues from new license agreements for the Successor Period were $0.297 million, or 10% of revenues.

 

Operating and Marketing Costs. Operating and marketing costs for the Successor Period was $1.010 million. The bulk of these costs were the Company’s design and marketing staff of approximately $0.887 million. Other operating costs of $0.123 million consisted of supplies, marketing and appearances.

 

General and administrative. General and administrative expense for the Successor Period was $0.910 million. These costs consisted of $0.393 million of executive and administrative compensation, $0.145 million of rent expense, $0.078 million professional fees and $0.294 million of other general expenses.

 

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense for the Successor Period was $0.211 million. Depreciation expense was $0.76 million and amortization of intangibles was $0.135 million.

 

Other expenses. For the Successor Period, the Company incurred $0.530 million in stock based compensation and $0.498 million in acquisition and due diligence related expenses. The stock based compensation includes an issuance of stock to a former Director valued at $0.158 million and $0.372 million to executives and directors. The acquisition and due diligence expenses were related to the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi brand, and are not expected to be recurring.

 

Interest and other finance costs. For the Successor Period, the Company incurred interest expense from debt of $0.296 million and other interest and finance costs of $0.253 million. Other interest and finance costs consist $0.127 million of amortization of the discounted Seller Note, $0.058 million amortization of Lender Warrants discount, $0.025 million of amortized other imputed interest, $.01 million Seller Note interest and $0.033 million of amortization of deferred finance costs.

 

Interest income. For the Successor Period, the Company earned $3,000 in interest income.

 

Provision for income taxes. For the Successor Period, the Company had a deferred net tax benefit of $190,000.

 

35
 

 

Pro-forma year ended 2011 compared with year ended 2010

 

The following tables present unaudited pro-forma information presents a summary of the Company’s consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, as if the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and the related financing had occurred on January 1, 2010.  These pro-forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have occurred on January 1, 2010, or which may result in the future.

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Unaudited Pro-forma Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

            Successor   Predecessor 
   Pro-forma Year
ended
December 31,
2011[1]		    Adjustments   Period From
September 29,
2011 through
December 31,
2011		   Period From
January 1, 2011
through
September 28,
2011[1]		 
                  
Licensing & design revenues  $11,627,000    $-   $2,898,000   $8,729,000 
Direct licensing costs   252,000     -    252,000    - 
Net licensing & design revenues   11,375,000     -    2,646,000    8,729,000 
                      
Expenses:                     
Operating and marketing   3,796,000     -    1,010,000    2,786,000 
General and administrative   2,294,000     -    910,000    1,384,000 
Stock based compensation   530,000     -    530,000    - 
Depreciation and amortization   816,000[2]     394,000    211,000    211,000 
Acquisition and due diligence costs   -[3]     (498,000)   498,000    - 
Total Expenses   7,436,000     (104,000)   3,159,000    4,381,000 
                      
Operating income (loss)   3,939,000     104,000    (513,000)   4,348,000 
                      
Other income (expenses)                     
Interest expenses – term debt   (1,148,000)[4]    (852,000)   (296,000)   - 
Other interest and finance costs   (1,000,000)[4]    (747,000)   (253,000)   - 
Interest income   12,000[4]     9,000    3,000    - 
Total other income (expenses)   (2,136,000)    (1,590,000)   (546,000)   - 
                      
Net income (loss) before income tax provision   1,803,000     (1,486,000)   (1,059,000)   4,348,000 
                      
Income tax provision (benefit)   631,000[5]     646,000    (190,000)   175,000 
                      
Net income (loss)  $1,172,000    $(2,132,000)  $(869,000)  $4,173,000 
                      
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                     
Basic:   5,750,259                 
Fully dilutive:   6,542,690                 
Basic earnings per share  $0.20                 
Fully diluted earnings per share  $0.18                 

 

36
 

 

[1] The December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 pro-forma statements assumes for the Predecessor Periods that the Isaac Mizrahi Business was operated under the structure of the Predecessor. This includes (1) Earthbound acting as a 3rd party servicer, (2) royalty revenues including amortization of deferred revenue (discussed under the caption “Trend Information Discussion”) and (3) amortization of prepaid expenses relating to the deferred revenue.

[2] This adjustment assumes the Company amortized intangible assets since January 1, 2011.

[3] This adjustment eliminates non-recurring expenses relating to the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business. These expenses would not be typically incurred in the operations of the Company.

[4] This adjustment is designed to state interest expense and other finance costs as if acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and related financing occurred January 1, 2011.

[5] Income tax expense is adjusted to reflect an effective 35% income tax rate.

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Unaudited Pro-forma Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

    Pro-forma Year
ended
December 31,
2010 (1) 		    Adjustments     Predecessor
Year Ended
December 31,
2010 (1) 		 
                   
Licensing & design revenues   $ 9,796,000     $ -     $ 9,796,000  
                         
Expenses:                        
Operating and marketing     3,143,000       -       3,143,000  
General and administrative     1,523,000       -       1,523,000  
Depreciation and amortization     812,000 [2]      529,000       283,000  
Total Expenses     5,478,000       529,000       4,949,000  
                         
Operating income (loss)     4,318,000       (529,000 )     4,847,000  
                         
Other income (expenses)                        
Interest expenses – term debt     (1,148,000 )[3]      (1,148,000 )     -  
Other interest and finance costs     (1,000,000 )[3]      (1,000,000 )     -  
Interest income     12,000 [3]      10,000       2,000  
Total other income (expenses)     (2,136,000 )     (2,138,000 )     2,000  
                         
Net income (loss) before income tax provision     2,182,000       (2,667,000 )     4,849,000  
                         
Income tax provision     764,000 [4]      542,000       222,000  
                         
Net income (loss)   $ 1,418,000     $ (3,209,000 )   $ 4,627,000  
                         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                        
Basic:     5,743,319                  
Fully dilutive:     6,539,312                  
Basic earnings per share   $ 0.25                  
Fully diluted earnings per share   $ 0.22                  

 

37
 

 

[1] The December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 pro-forma statements assumes for the Predecessor Periods that the Isaac Mizrahi Business was operated under the structure of the Predecessor. This includes (1) Earthbound acting as a 3rd party servicer, (2) royalty revenues including amortization of deferred revenues (discussed under the caption “Trend Information Discussion”) and (3) amortization of prepaid expenses relating to the deferred revenues.

[2] This adjustment assumes the Company amortized intangible assets since January 1, 2010.

[3] This adjustment is designed to state interest expense and other finance costs as if acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and related financing occurred January 1, 2010.

[4] Income tax expense is adjusted to reflect an effective 35% income tax rate.

 

The following discussion compares the year ended December 31, 2011 pro-forma statement of operations (“2011”) and the year ended December 31, 2010 pro-forma statement of operations of the Predecessor (“2010”).

 

Revenue – Net licensing and design service fee revenue for 2011 increased to $11,375,000 from $9,796,000 from 2010. The increase in revenue was attributable to increased net royalties of $2,880,000 and $115,000, for QVC and LC, respectively and new licensees added $295,000 of royalty revenues.  This was partly offset by a decrease in vendor royalty revenues from 2010 to 2011 by $1,461,000 and the Company incurring direct royalty expenses of $252,000 in 2011. Design fees remained unchanged from 2010 to 2011.

 

Expenses – Total expenses for 2011 increased to $7,436,000 from $5,478,000 for 2010.

 

Total operating and marketing costs expenses for 2011 increased by $653,000 to $3,796,000 from 2010.  The increase is attributable to a combination of increased product sales volume and activity relating to seventeen new licensees. Operating and marketing cost as a percentage of net revenues increased slightly to 33.4% in 2011 compared to 32% for 2010.

 

General and administrative costs increased in 2011 by $771,000 to $2,294,000 compared with $1,523,000 for 2010.  Increased salaries of $284,000 represent the largest increase to general and administrative expenses as compared to 2010. This is due primarily to the executive staff needed to operate as a public company. Other costs relating to being a public company such as professional fees, insurance, compliance and other fees added approximately $310,000 in expenses for 2011. Rent was approximately $50,000 higher in 2011 compared to 2010.

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $4,000 for 2011 compared with 2010.  The difference is the Company acquired and purchased additional fixed assets in 2011. Amortization of intangibles remained the same for each year at $529,000.

 

Stock based compensation accounted for $530,000 of 2011 and none for 2010. This amount consists of $372,000 for employees and the board of directors and $158,000 for the former director.

 

Interest and other finance costs, net of interest income for 2011 and 2010 was $2,136,000 for both years. Interest consists of $1,148,000 of current interest relating to the Company’s term debt for both 2011 and 2010. All of the other interest and finance costs are based on amortization of (1) imputed interest and (2) deferred finance costs). Amortization of imputed interest consists of Seller note discount $511,000; lender warrant discount of $232,000; and other imputed interest amortization of $104,000 and amortization of deferred finance costs is approximately $125,000. The Company prepaid $122,000 of Seller Note interest of which $36,000 is current expense 2011.

 

Income taxes were higher for 2010 by $107,000 based on higher taxable income and the same effective tax rate of 35%.

 

Trend information discussion:

 

Since the beginning of 2010 the Isaac Mizrahi Business has moved towards higher royalty revenues and less design service fees.  Royalty revenues have been primarily dependent on product sales on QVC.  Following the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands by the Company, new license agreements became effective for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, which are expected to increase overall revenues.  In addition, the Company is looking to expand product offerings and increase licensed royalty revenue by adding new product categories and entering into new license agreements.   As the Company adds new licenses it will reduce the QVC license revenue concentration.

 

38
 

 

The Company expects royalty revenues to increase based on the new licenses that have been signed in 2011, the ones that have been signed in 2012 and the prospects of new categories and new licensees. The Company expects its new licensees to begin to sell product by the fall of 2012 or the spring of 2013. Currently, the Company has recognized only guaranteed minimum payments from its new licensees.

 

As consideration for the termination and replacement of a previous design agreement between IM Ready and Liz Claiborne, the Isaac Mizrahi Business received a one-time fee of $9,000,000, which was recorded as a deferred royalty payment.  This amount was being amortized by the Isaac Mizrahi Business on a straight line basis over the life of the LCNY Agreement. Included in revenues for the period from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 and year ended 2010 is amortized revenue of $1.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively.  Following the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the Company is not receiving the benefits of the one-time payment and will not record any deferred royalty payment as a result of the one-time payment.

 

The Company’s operating expenses have a different structure than the Predecessor operated under.  The Earthbound service fee is replaced by an in-house design and management team.  The termination of the Earthbound Agreement is expected to have minimal effect on direct expenses and operating margins for the short term.  Based on the current level of revenues, the Company’s first year projected wages and salaries, including the salaries payable to our executive officers, are expected to be slightly less than IM Ready’s historical wages and salaries and the service provided from Earthbound.  Direct expense savings will be realized by the Company as license royalty revenues increase and the incremental direct costs are expected to be minimal compared with the fee structure under the Earthbound Agreement. Under our operating structure, the Company expects our operating margins to increase as a percentage of revenues as revenues increase.

 

The Company is obligated to pay additional consideration to IM Ready upon meeting certain revenue target amounts over the four years following the acquisition.  The amount is payable by the Company in stock so long as the Loan is outstanding, otherwise cash or stock at the sole discretion of the Company.  The Company has recorded a contingent obligation based on the discounted projected earn-out payments.  The revenue that determines the annual earn-out consideration is based solely on the Isaac Mizrahi Business.  If revenues from the Isaac Mizrahi Business increase and constitute at least 76% of the Net Royalty Income targets described below, IM Ready will be eligible to earn the Earn-Out Value each year for four consecutive years after the Closing Date, with the number of shares to be issued based upon the greater of (i) $4.50 and (ii) average stock price for the last twenty days in such period.  The Earn-Out Value is payable solely in stock.

 

ROYALTY TARGET PERIODS  NET ROYALTY
INCOME TARGET		   EARN-OUT VALUE 
First Royalty Target Period  $16,000,000   $7,500,000 
Second Royalty Target Period  $20,000,000   $7,500,000 
Third Royalty Target Period  $22,000,000   $7,500,000 
Fourth Royalty Target Period  $24,000,000   $7,500,000 

 

IM Ready will receive a percentage of the Earn-Out Value based upon the percentage of the actual Net Royalty Income of the Isaac Mizrahi Business to the royalty target as set forth below.

 

APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE  % OF EARN-OUT VALUE
EARNED		 
Less than 76%   0%
76% up to 80%   40%
80% up to 90%   70%
90% up to 95%   80%
95% up to 100%   90%
100% or greater   100%

 

39
 

 

The earn-out value for the acquisition was determined to be $15,000,000 (the “Earn-Out Obligation”). This amount was based on projected royalties during the Royalty Target Periods and the aggregate amount of earn-out consideration due for each Royalty Target Period. The Earn-out Obligation balance at December 31, 2011 is $15,000,000.

 

IM Ready will also be eligible to earn up to $2,765,500, payable in cash or Common Stock, at the Company’s option, contingent upon the Isaac Mizrahi Business receiving net royalty income of at least $2,500,000 from QVC in the twelve month period ending on the four year anniversary of the Closing Date with such stock based upon the greater of (x) $4.50 and (y) fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of such issuance (the “QVC Earn-out”).

 

Management will assess no less frequent than each reporting period the status of these contingent obligations.  Any change in the expected obligation will result in an expense or income in the period in which it is determined fair market value of the carrying value has changed.

 

Other Factors

 

We continue to seek to expand and diversify the types of licensed products being produced under our the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, as well as diversify the distribution channels within which licensed products are sold, in an effort to reduce dependence on any particular retailer, consumer or market sector. The success of our company, however, will still remain largely dependent on our ability to build and maintain brand awareness and contract with and retain key licensees and on our licensees’ ability to accurately predict upcoming fashion trends within their respective customer bases and fulfill the product requirements of their particular retail channels within the global marketplace. Unanticipated changes in consumer fashion preferences, slowdowns in the U.S. economy, changes in the prices of supplies, consolidation of retail establishments, and other factors noted in “Risk Factors,” could adversely affect our licensees’ ability to meet and/or exceed their contractual commitments to us and thereby adversely affect our future operating results.

 

Effects of Inflation

 

We do not believe that the relatively moderate rates of inflation experienced over the past two years in the United States, where we primarily compete, have had a significant effect on revenues or profitability.  If there were an adverse change in the rate of inflation by less than 8%, the expected effect on net income would be immaterial.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Liquidity

 

Our principal capital requirements have been to fund working capital needs, and to a lesser extent, capital expenditures. At December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012, our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaled $2,718,000 and $2,946,000, respectively.  

 

The Company financed the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business with approximately $4.3 million of proceeds received from the issuance of Common Stock and Investor Warrants in the Private Placement and $13.1 million of net proceeds from the Loan.  As part of the consideration to IM Ready, the Company paid to IM Ready approximately $10.1 million and $1.5 million in an assumed obligation of IM Ready and incurred transaction costs and fees of $1.2 million.  Following the acquisition, the Company had $4.6 million in cash. 

 

As part of the financing for the acquisition, the Company also assumed a $1.5 million non-interest bearing installment obligation and issued approximately $7.4 million principal amount Note to IM Ready (the “Seller Note”). The Company prepaid $122,000, the full amount of the Seller Note interest, to IM Ready on the Closing Date. The Seller Note is due three years from the Closing Date, payable in stock or cash at the Company’s option. Through December 31, 2012, the Company has approximately $1.3 million of cash payment obligations under the Loan and installment obligation.   The Company expects to meet these obligations from existing cash and operating cash flow.  Neither the Loan nor the installment obligation is subject to change in cost structure.  The Company has minimal capital expenditure requirements and has no future capital commitments.

 

40
 

 

Our term loan facility requires us to repay current interest quarterly at 8.5% per annum. Principal payments are not required until 2013.

 

The Company expects that existing cash and operating cash flows will be adequate to meet the Company’s operating needs, debt service obligations and capital expenditure needs for the next twelve months.  The Company is dependent on its licensees for all of its revenues, and there is no assurance that the licensees will perform as projected.

 

We also believe that cash from future operations as well as currently available cash will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated working capital requirements for the foreseeable future, including the debt service of the $13.5 million Loan and making necessary upgrades to the Company’s infrastructure and technology.

 

At December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012, the working capital ratio (current assets to current liabilities) was 3.73 to 1.00 and 3.32 to 1.00, respectively.

 

The Company’s business model does not require significant capital expenditures, nor does it require the Company to advance expenses such as inventory.  Although the Company is limited to $400,000 per year in capital expenditures under the Loan, the Company estimates that capital expenditures for the next twelve months will be less than this amount, including for upgrading technology and equipment and fixture needs and making improvements to our leased premises.  Therefore, the Company does not believe that this covenant will restrict its expected operations.

 

The Predecessor - Prior to September 29, 2011 cash flow requirements for the Isaac Mizrahi Business were funded by IM Ready, and cash management functions were not performed at the Isaac Mizrahi Business level. The Isaac Mizrahi Business did not maintain a separate cash account and it is not possible to determine the cash flows directly attributable to the Isaac Mizrahi Business.

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the Current Quarter increased by approximately $289,000. This increase in net cash for the Current Quarter was primarily due to Current Quarter net income of $162,000 and positive adjustments for non-cash items of $435,000 and partially off-set by a decrease in the net change in operating assets and liabilities of $308,000. There were no comparable results for the Prior Year Quarter.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 decreased approximately $2.1 million.  This decrease in net cash provided by operating activities of $2.1 million is primarily due to a net loss of $0.869 million and an increase in accounts receivable by $2.2 million, which was collected January 2012.  Our net loss of $0.869 million included non-cash items (1) stock-based compensation expense of approximately $0.530 million, (2) $0.252 million of imputed interest amortization of discounted obligations and depreciation and amortization of $0.211 million. There are no comparable results for the prior period.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $44,000 for the Current Quarter. The Company reduced restricted cash by $175,000 during the Current Quarter by depositing this sum into a refundable security deposit with our landlord. The Company purchased equipment and fixtures of $44,000 during the Current Quarter. There were no comparable results for the prior period.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $11,991,000 for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011. The use of cash related to the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business included paying $10,174,000 to IM Ready, assuming a $1,500,000 obligation from IM Ready on the Closing Date, and the purchase of equipment and fixtures of $142,000.   The Company also had reserved $175,000 as security for the Company’s real property lease at December 31, 2011.  There are no comparable results for the prior period.

 

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Financing Activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $17,000 for the Current Quarter. The Company incurred expenses related to equity and recapitalization of $2,000 during the Current Quarter. The Company made principal payments of $11,000 during the Current Quarter for installment debt obligation and $4,000 under its capital lease obligations during the Current Quarter. There were no comparable results for the Prior Year Quarter.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $16,768,000 for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011.  The Company received $13,500,000 in proceeds from the Loan and $4,305,000 from the issuance of Common Stock on the Closing Date and an additional $500 from the issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of options in December.  The Company incurred deferred finance costs and expenses related to equity and recapitalization of $562,000, and $472,000, respectively. The Company prepaid $4,000 in capital lease obligations.  There are no comparable results for the prior period.

 

Obligations and commitments

 

In connection with the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, we entered into a five-year term loan facility (the “Loan”) pursuant to which we borrowed and received proceeds of $13,500,000. Our obligations under our Loan are secured by the Isaac Mizrahi Trademarks and essentially all of the assets of IM Brands, LLC. The Loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 8.5% per annum, payable quarterly. The principal amount of the Loan is payable quarterly as follows:  $337,500 on January 5, 2013 through October 5, 2013, $506,250 on January 5, 2014 through October 5, 2014; $843,750 on January 5, 2015 through October 5, 2015; $1,687,500 on January 5, 2016 through the maturity date, which is the date that is 5 years after the closing date. The principal balance as of December 31, 2011 was $13,500,000.

 

In connection with the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the Company assumed an obligation to Earthbound for $1,500,000, non-interest bearing payable quarterly over 5 years commencing March 31, 2012. The obligation is discounted by 9.25% (the Company’s estimated borrowing rate) and originally recorded as an installment obligation of $1,132,167. The obligation is payable quarterly as follows:  $37,500 on March 31, 2012 through December 31, 2012, $81,250 on March 31, 2013 through December 31, 2014, $87,500 on March 31, 2015 through December 31, 2016. The balance as of December 31, 2011 is $1,158,348

 

The following is a summary of contractual cash obligations, including interest for the periods that existed as of December 31, 2011:

 

Obligation   2012     2013     2014     2015 and 
  after   		    Total  
                               
Loan   $ -     $ 1,350,000     $ 2,025,000     $ 10,125,000     $ 13,500,000  
Loan – interest     1,148,000       1,104,000       968,000       1,112,000       4,332,000  
Earthbound obligation (including interest)     150,000       325,000       325,000       700,000       1,500,000  
Other contractual obligations     18,000       3,000       -       -       21,000  
Rent obligations     533,000       554,000       584,000       703,000       2,374,000  
Employment contracts     2,156,000       2,505,000       2,008,000       -       6,669,000  
                                         
Total contractual cash obligations   $ 4,005,000     $ 5,841,000     $ 5,910,000     $ 12,640,000     $ 28,396,000  

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

 

Our consolidated financial statements and supplementary financial data are included in this report beginning with page F-1.

 

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

Arik Eshel, CPA & Associates (“Arik”) served as our independent auditor in connection with the audits of our financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, and review of the subsequent interim period through June 30, 2011.  In connection with the Merger, our board of directors recommended and approved the appointment of Rothstein Kass & Company, P.C. (“Rothstein Kass”) as our independent auditor.  Rothstein Kass audited the financial statements of the Isaac Mizrahi Business for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 and through the date hereof, neither us nor anyone acting on our behalf consulted Rothstein Kass with respect to (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to us or oral advice was provided that Rothstein Kass concluded was an important factor considered by us in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement or reportable events set forth in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

 

The 2,912,860 shares of Common Stock are being offered for resale by 36 selling security holders.  Such shares consist of (i) 861,000 shares of Common Stock and 230,500 shares of Common Stock underlying Investor Warrants with an exercise price of $.01 per share, issued in the Private Placement closed on September 29, 2011 for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,305,000; (ii) 200,000 shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of Investor Warrants; (iii) 1,200,000 of the shares of Common Stock originally issued to IM Ready in connection with the Purchase Agreement; (iv) 47,132 shares of Common Stock issued to Ann Cole-Hatchard, the wife of a former director; (v) 364,428 shares of Common Stock underlying the Lender Warrants with an exercise price of $.01 issued to the Lenders in connection with the Loan  from MidMarket in the aggregate principal amount of $13,500,000; and (vi) 9,800 shares of Common Stock underlying the Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $5.50 issued to Rodman & Renshaw LLC, as placement agent in the Private Placement.

 

The following table sets forth the name of the selling security holders, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each of the selling security holders as of July 5, 2012 and the number of shares of Common Stock being offered by the selling security holders.  The shares being offered hereby are being registered to permit public secondary trading, and the selling security holders may offer all or part of the shares for resale from time to time. However, the selling security holders are under no obligation to sell all or any portion of such shares nor are the selling security holders obligated to sell any shares immediately upon effectiveness of this prospectus.  All information with respect to share ownership has been furnished by the selling security holders.

 

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Name   Shares
Beneficially
Owned
Prior to
  Offering   		    Shares to be
  Offered   		    Amount
Beneficially
Owned after
  Offering   		    Percentage
Beneficially
Owned after
  Offering   		 
Beth and Steven Solferino (1)     30,000       30,000       0       0 %
Christopher K. Lindsey (1)     15,000       15,000       0       0 %
Cloudbreak Group, LLC (1)(2)     30,000       30,000       0       0 %
Earthbound LLC (1)(3)     200,000       150,000       50,000       *  
Edward McBride (1)     60,000       60,000       0       0 %
Gerard Guez (1)     225,000       225,000       0       0 %
Hal Kestenbaum (1)     3,000       3,000       0       0 %
Irrevocable Trust of Rose Dempsey (4)     526,283       74,250       452,033       6.4 %
James F. Haran (5)     363,703       22,500       341,203       4.8 %
Jennifer Mullarkey (1)     6,000       6,000       0       0 %
John Ripley (1)     30,000       30,000       0       0 %
Marisa Gardini (6)(11)     512,950       360,000       152,950       2.2 %
Mark X. DiSanto Investment Trust (1)(7)     137,500       137,500       0       0 %
MBF Invest LLC (1)(8)     150,000       150,000       0       0 %
Richard Tavoso (1)     60,000       60,000       0       0 %
Robert D'Loren Family Trust (9)     271,116       38,250       232,866       3.3 %
Seth Burroughs (10)     259,469       15,000       244,469       3.4 %
Thomas M. Butkiewicz (1)     65,000       45,000       20,000       * %
Ann Cole-Hatchard     47,132       47,132       0       0 %
Great American Life Insurance Company (11)     255,100       255,100       0       0 %
Great American Insurance Company (11)     109,328       109,328       0       0 %
Rodman & Renshaw, LLC (12)     9,800       9,800       0       0 %
Kenneth L. Tyndale     33,334       33,334       0       0 %
Mark L. Butler     83,334       83,334       0       0 %
Stephen Cox     50,000       50,000       0       0 %
Abbott Hill Partners, L.P.     100,000       100,000       0       0 %
Bryant Sheftick     13,000       13,000       0       0 %
Delta Institutional, LP     83,900       83,900       0       0 %
Delta Onshore, LP     41,700       41,700       0       0 %
Delta Offshore Master, Ltd     373,967       373,967       0       0 %
Delta Pleiades, LP     167,100       167,100       0       0 %
Elizabeth Hornsby Fitzpatrick     10,000       10,000       0       0 %
Robert V. Gothier, Jr.     33,333       33,333       0       0 %
Vivian Lord Pitts     10,000       10,000       0       0 %
Janet D. Balakian     20,000       20,000       0       0 %
MAJ Partners LLC     33,333       20,332       13,001       *  

____________

* Less than 1%

 

(1)Consists of shares of Common Stock and shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Investor Warrants purchased in the Private Placement.

 

(2)Thomas Butkiewicz is the manager of Cloudbreak Group, LLC, and has voting and dispositive power over the shares beneficially owned by Cloudbreak Group, LLC. Cloudbreak Group, LLC is also our licensee for the IM Trademarks for fragrance, home fragrance, and bath & body.

 

(3)Jeffrey Cohen and Jack Dweck have shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Earthbound LLC (“Earthbound”).  Jeffrey Cohen is also a director of the Company.  In connection with the Purchase Agreement, we acquired certain assets pursuant to a contribution agreement with Earthbound, and have certain payment obligations to Earthbound under a services agreement.  Our relationship with Earthbound is discussed more fully in the sections titled “Business – Acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”

 

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(4)Robert D’Loren, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Mark DiSanto, our director, are the trustees of the Irrevocable Trust of Rose Dempsey, and Robert D’Loren has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares beneficially owned by the Irrevocable Trust of Rose Dempsey.

 

(5) James F. Haran is our Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary. Includes warrants to purchase 49,500 shares of Common Stock.

 

(6)Marisa Gardini is our Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and Marketing and a director. Ms. Gardini is also a shareholder of IM Ready, LLC.

 

(7)Mark X. DiSanto, our director, is the trustee and has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares beneficially owned by the Mark X. DiSanto Investment Trust.

 

(8)Marc Fisher has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares beneficially owned by MBF Invest LLC. Marc Fisher is also principal of MBF Licensing, LLC, which is our footwear licensee for the IM Trademarks.

 

(9)Mark X. DiSanto, our director, is the trustee and has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares beneficially owned by the Robert D'Loren Family Trust.

 

(10) Seth Burroughs is our Executive Vice President of Business Development and Treasury and Secretary. Includes warrants to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock,

 

(11)Consists of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Lender Warrants.

 

(12)Consists of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Agent Warrants.

 

Except for Rodman & Renshaw, LLC, or as set forth in the footnotes above, or any broker-dealer acting as custodian for IRA investors, none of the selling shareholders or their beneficial owners:

 

  - has had a material relationship with us other than as a security holder at any time within the past three years;

 

  - has ever been one of our officers or directors or an officer or director of our predecessors or affiliates; or

 

  - are broker-dealers or affiliated with broker-dealers.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

This prospectus relates to the resale of up to 2,912,860 shares, including (1) 2,308,132 shares of our Common Stock, (2) 230,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Investor Warrants, (3) 364,428 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Lender Warrants and (4) 9,800 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants.

 

Each Selling Security holder (the “Selling Security Holder”) of the Common Stock and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of Common Stock on the OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions.  The initial public offering price for the common stock will be $3.00 per share until the shares of common stock are quoted on a national securities exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board at which time the shares of common stock will be sold at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. There can be no assurance our common stock will be quoted on a national securities exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board.

 

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A Selling Security Holder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:

 

  · ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
  · block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
  · purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
  · an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
  · privately negotiated transactions;
  · settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;
  · broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Security Holder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
  · through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
  · a combination of any such methods of sale; or
  · any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Security Holders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Security Holders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales.  Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Security Holders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA NASD Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASD IM-2440.

 

In connection with the sale of the Common Stock or interests therein, the Selling Security Holders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Common Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume.  The Selling Security Holders may also sell shares of the Common Stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the Common Stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities.  The Selling Security Holders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

The Selling Security Holders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales.  In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.  Each Selling Security Holder has informed us that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).

 

We are required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred incident to the registration of the shares.  We have agreed to indemnify the Selling Security Holders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Because Selling Security Holders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder.  In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus.  There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling Security Holders.

 

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We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the shares have been resold, or (ii) may be resold without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, without the requirement for us to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect.  The resale shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the Common Stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution.  In addition, the Selling Security Holders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of the Common Stock by the Selling Security Holders or any other person.  We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Security Holders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Market Information

 

The Company’s Common Stock was quoted on the Over-the Counter Bulletin Board under the trading symbol "NFBH" from March 2001 until May 6, 2008. On September 29, 2011, our name was changed from NetFabric Holdings, Inc. to Xcel Brands, Inc. and our stock symbol was changed from "NFBH" to “XELB”. Our Common Stock has been quoted on the OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets under the ticker symbol “NFBH” from May 7, 2008 until March November 8, 2011 and under the ticker symbol “XELB” since November 9, 2011.

 

The table below sets forth the range of quarterly high and low closing sales prices for our Common Stock for the 2011 and 2010. The quotations below reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not represent actual transactions:

 

   High   Low 
         
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011          
First Quarter  $26.04   $5.73 
Second Quarter  $18.23   $6.25 
Third Quarter  $12.34   $4.17 
Fourth Quarter  $2.60   $0.71 
           
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010          
First Quarter  $4.17   $0.37 
Second Quarter  $1.04   $0.57 
Third Quarter  $9.90   $0.57 
Fourth Quarter  $12.50   $3.13 

 

Holders

 

As of July 5, 2012 the number of stockholders of record was approximately 504 (excluding beneficial owners and any shares held in street name or by nominees).

 

Dividends

 

We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock nor do we anticipate paying any in the foreseeable future. In addition, the Loan prohibits us from paying any cash dividends while it is outstanding. Furthermore, we expect to retain any future earnings to finance its operations and expansion. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our earnings levels, capital requirements, any restrictive loan covenants and other factors the Board considers relevant.

 

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Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans

 

2005 Stock Option Plan

 

In March 2005, our Board and stockholders adopted our 2005 Stock Option Plan, pursuant to which 17,289 shares of Common Stock, 9,000,000 shares on a pre-reverse split basis were reserved for issuance upon exercise of options. Our stock option plan is designed to serve as an incentive for retaining qualified and competent employees, directors and consultants. Our Board or a committee of our Board administers our stock option plan and is authorized, in its discretion, to grant options under our stock option plan to all eligible employees, including our officers, directors (whether or not employees) and consultants. We do not intend to grant any future awards under this Plan.

 

2011 Equity Incentive Plan

 

As of the Closing Date, the Company assumed the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Old XCel as approved by Old XCel’s board of directors and stockholders. The purpose of the Plan is to enable the Company to offer its employees, officers, directors, consultants and others whose past, present and/or potential contributions to the Company have been, are or will be important to the success of the Company, an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.

 

  · The Plan provides for the grant of stock options or restricted stock (any grant under the Plan, an “Award”).  The stock options may be incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options.

 

  · A total of 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock are eligible for issuance under the Plan, and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options may be granted under the Plan is 2,000,000.

 

  · The Plan may be administered by the Board of Directors or a committee consisting of two or more members of the Board of Directors appointed by the Board (for purposes of this description, any such committee, a “Committee”).

 

  · Officers and other employees of our Company or any parent or subsidiary of our Company who are at the time of the grant of an Award employed by us or any parent or subsidiary of our Company are eligible to be granted options or other Awards under the Plan.  In addition, non-qualified stock options and other Awards may be granted under the Plan to any person, including, but not limited to, directors, independent agents, consultants and attorneys who the Board or the Committee, as the case may be, believes has contributed or will contribute to our success.

 

  · With respect to incentive stock options granted to an eligible employee owning stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or the stock of a parent or subsidiary of our Company immediately before the grant (each, a “10% Stockholder”), such incentive stock option shall not be exercisable more than 5 years from the date of grant.

 

  · The exercise price of an incentive stock option will not be less than the fair market value of the shares underlying the option on the date the option is granted, provided, however, that the exercise price of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% Stockholder may not be less than 110% of such fair market value.

 

  · The exercise price of a non-qualified stock option may not be less than fair market value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the option on the date the option is granted.

 

  · Under the Plan, we may not, in the aggregate, grant incentive stock options that are first exercisable by any individual optionee during any calendar year (under all such plans of the optionee’s employer corporation and its “parent” and “subsidiary” corporations, as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code) to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the underlying stock (determined at the time the option is granted) exceeds $100,000.

 

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  · Restricted stock awards give the recipient the right to receive a specified number of shares of Common Stock, subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Board or the Committee, as the case may be, deems appropriate.  Restrictions may include limitations on the right to transfer the stock until the expiration of a specified period of time and forfeiture of the stock upon the occurrence of certain events such as the termination of employment prior to expiration of a specified period of time.

 

  · Certain Awards made under the Plan may be granted so that they qualify as “performance-based compensation” (as this term is used in Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder) and are exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Code Section 162(m) (these Awards are referred to as “Performance-Based Awards”).  Under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), our tax deduction may be limited to the extent total compensation paid to the chief executive officer, or any of the four most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief executive officer) exceeds $1 million in any one tax year.  Among other criteria, Awards only qualify as performance-based awards if at the time of grant the compensation committee is comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” (as this term is used in Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder).  In addition, we must obtain stockholder approval of material terms of performance goals for such “performance-based compensation.”

 

  · All stock options and certain stock awards, performance awards, and stock units granted under the Plan, and the compensation attributable to such Awards, are intended to (i) qualify as performance-based awards or (ii) be otherwise exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m).

 

  · No options or other Awards may be granted on or after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan.

 

From time to time, the Company issues stock-based compensation to its officers, directors, employees and consultants. The maximum term of options granted is generally 10 years and generally options vest over a period of one to four years. However, the Board of Directors of the Company may approve other vesting schedules. Options may be exercised in whole or in part. The exercise price of stock options granted is generally the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors on the date of grant, considering factors such as the sale of stock, results of operations, and consideration of the fair value of comparable private companies in the industry.

 

The fair value of each stock option award is estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model based on certain assumptions. The assumption for expected term is based on evaluations of expected future employee exercise behavior. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity dates approximately equal to the expected term at the grant date. The historical volatility of comparable companies' stock is used as the basis for the volatility assumption. The Company has never paid cash dividends, and does not currently intend to pay cash dividends, and thus assumed a 0% dividend yield.

 

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2011 regarding compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.

 

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                Number of Securities
                Remaining Available for
    Number of Securities           Future Issuance Under
    to be Issued Upon     Weighted Average     Equity Compensation
    Exercise of     Exercise Price of     Plans (Excluding
    Outstanding Options,     Outstanding Options,     Securities Reflected in
    Warrants and Rights     Warrants and Rights     Column (a))
Plan Category   (a)     (b)     (c)
Equity Compensation Plans(1)     576     $ 728.77     N/A
Equity compensation Plans (2)     267,125       5.00     2,215,750
Total     267,701             2,215,750

_____________

(1) Pursuant to our 2005 Stock Option Plan. We do not intend to issue any further grants from this plan

 

(2) Pursuant to our 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

As of July 5, 2012, 1,561,568 shares of restricted stock and options to purchase 105,500 shares of Common Stock were awarded under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, and 500 shares of restricted stock were forfeited. As of July 5, 2012, 566,307 shares of Common Stock remain available for awards under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers

 

None

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

The following information describes the capital stock and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.  This description is only a summary.

 

General

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock at a par value of $.001 per share and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock at a par value of $.001 per share.

 

Common Stock

 

Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors, and subject to any contractual agreement entered into by any holder of shares. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of our Common Stock that are present in person or represented by proxy. Holders of our Common Stock representing a majority of our capital stock issued, outstanding, and entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, are necessary to constitute a quorum at any meeting of our stockholders. A vote by the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares is required to effectuate certain fundamental corporate changes such as liquidation, merger or an amendment to our certificate of incorporation. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.

 

The holders of shares of our Common Stock will be entitled to such cash dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors from funds available therefore.  Upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the holders of shares of our Common Stock will be entitled to receive pro rata all assets available for distribution to such holders.  In the event of any merger or consolidation with or into another company in connection with which shares of our Common Stock are converted into or exchangeable for shares of stock, other securities, or property (including cash), all holders of our Common Stock will be entitled to receive the same kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property (including cash).  Holders of our Common Stock have no pre-emptive rights and no conversion rights, and there are no redemption provisions applicable to our Common Stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

As of the date hereof, there are no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding.  Our board of directors, without further stockholder approval, may issue preferred stock in one or more classes or series as the board may determine from time to time.  Each such class or series shall be distinctly designated.  All shares of any one class or series of the preferred stock shall be alike in every particular, except that there may be different dates from which dividends thereon, if any, shall be cumulative, if made cumulative.  The voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series outstanding at any time.  Our board of directors has express authority to fix (by resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any shares of each particular class or series of preferred stock) the number of shares, voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights of each such class or series.  The rights granted to the holders of any series of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of Common Stock and issuance of preferred stock may delay, defer or prevent a change in our control.

 

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Warrants

 

As part of the Private Placement, we issued Investor Warrants to purchase 430,500 shares of Common Stock to investors in the Private Placement, of which 200,000 have been exercised.  The Investor Warrants are exercisable in whole or in part, at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (“Exercise Price”).  The Investor Warrants may be exercised at any time upon the election of the holder, beginning on the date of issuance and ending of the fifth anniversary of the issuance date.  Upon the expiration of the Investor Warrant exercise period, the Investor Warrants will expire and become void and worthless.

 

In order to exercise the Investor Warrants, the Investor Warrant must be surrendered at our office prior to the expiration of the Investor Warrant exercise period, with the form of exercise appearing with the Investor Warrant completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by payment of the full exercise price for the number of Investor Warrants being exercised. Payment shall be by certified funds or cashier’s check payable to our company. In the case of partial exercise, we will issue a new warrant to the exercising warrant holder, or assigns, evidencing the Investor Warrants which remain unexercised. In our discretion, we may designate a location other than our office for surrender of Investor Warrants in the case of transfer or exercise.

 

If, one (1) year from the date of issuance there is no effective registration statement registering the shares of Common Stock underlying the Investor Warrants, the Investor Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis. The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon the exercise of Investor Warrants are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, such as stock splits, stock dividends or our recapitalization.  In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of Investor Warrants will not be entitled to participate in the distribution of our assets.  Holders of Investor Warrants have no voting, pre-emptive, subscription or other rights of stockholders in respect of the Investor Warrants, nor shall holders thereof be entitled to receive dividends.

 

We have agreed to register the shares of the Common Stock underlying the Investor Warrants issued in connection with the Private Placement, on a registration statement to be filed with the SEC within sixty (60) days after the closing of the Private Placement and to keep the registration statement effective until the earlier of (i) September 29, 2012 or (ii) until all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold, or may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, without the requirement for us to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144.

 

Other Options and Warrants

 

There are also outstanding (i) the Agent Warrants to purchase 9,800 shares of our Common Stock, (ii) the Lender Warrants to purchase 364,428 shares of our Common Stock, (iii) outstanding options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,065 shares of our Common Stock and (iv) options and warrants granted to certain of our directors, executive officers, employees and licensing agents to purchase an aggregate of 738,750 shares of our Common Stock.

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The following table sets forth the names, ages, and positions of our executive officers and directors as of the date hereof. Executive officers are elected annually by our board of directors.  Each executive officer holds his office until he resigns, is removed by the Board, or his successor is elected and qualified.  Directors are elected annually by our stockholders at the annual meeting.  Each director holds his office until his successor is elected and qualified or his earlier resignation or removal.

 

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NAME   AGE   POSITION
         
Robert W. D’Loren   54   Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
         
James F. Haran   51   Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary
         
Giuseppe “Joe” Falco   40   President and Chief Operating Officer of the Isaac Mizrahi Brand
         
Marisa Gardini   44   Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and Marketing and Director
         
Seth Burroughs   32   Executive Vice President of Business Development and Treasury and Secretary
         
Jeffrey Cohen   51   Director
         
Mark DiSanto   49   Director
         
Todd Slater   49   Director
         
Edward Jones, III   63   Director
         
Howard Liebman   69   Director

 

Below are the biographies of each of our officers and directors as of April 17, 2012.

 

Robert W. D’Loren is our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. He served as Chairman and CEO of IPX Capital, LLC and related subsidiaries, a consumer products advisory firm from 2009 to 2011.  Mr. D’Loren previously served as a Director and President and Chief Executive Officer of Nexcen Brands, Inc., a global brand acquisition and management company from June 2006 until August 2008.  Prior to NexCen Brands, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of UCC Capital Corporation (“UCC”) from 2004 to 2006. Prior to forming UCC, Mr. D’Loren served as President and Chief Operating Officer of CAK Universal Credit Corporation, an intellectual property finance company from 1998 to 2003.  Mr. D’Loren’s career debt and equity investments in intellectual property centric and consumer branded products companies exceed $1.0 billion.  From 1985 to 1997, Mr. D’Loren served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the D’Loren Organization, an investment and restructuring firm responsible for aggregate transactions in excess of $2 billion.  Prior to that, Mr. D’Loren served as an asset manager for Fosterlane Management where he managed in excess of $1.0 billion in assets, and previously served as a manager with Deloitte.  Mr. D’Loren is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University and a B.S. from New York University.

 

Mr. D’Loren has served on the board of directors of Iconix Brand Group, Longaberger Company, Business Loan Center, Achilles Track Club International and served as a board advisor to The Athletes Foot and Bill Blass, Ltd.

 

James F. Haran is our Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Haran served as CFO of IPX Capital, LLC and related subsidiaries, a consumer products advisory firm from 2009 to 2011. Mr. Haran was the Executive Vice President, Capital Markets for Nexcen Brands, Inc. from 2006 to 2008 and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Credit Officer for UCC Capital Corp. and its predecessor company, CAK Universal Credit Corp. from 1998 to 2006.  Prior to joining UCC, Mr. Haran was a partner at Sidney Yoskowitz and Company P.C., a registered diversified certified public accounting firm. During his tenure, which began in 1987, his focus was on real estate and financial services companies. Mr. Haran served his clients on an array of strategic and operational levels.  Mr. Haran is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

 

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Giuseppe “Joe” Falco is our President and Chief Operating Officer of the Isaac Mizrahi Brand.  Mr. Falco is a merchant with almost two decades of experience in managing lifestyle brands and business development.  Mr. Falco served as President of Misook, a division of HMX from 2009 to 2010, as Worldwide President and Chief Merchant for Elie Tahari from 2007 to 2009 and as President of Sixty USA from 2005 to 2006. Prior to that position, Mr. Falco was Senior Vice President for Dolce & Gabbana from 1998 to 2004, where he was responsible for North American development and operations.  Mr. Falco started his career with the luxury retailer Barneys New York where he became a student of product, merchandising, and brand communication.

 

Marisa Gardini is our Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and Marketing and member of our board of directors.  Since 2006, Ms. Gardini has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of IM Ready. During this tenure, she has led all segments of the business including managing all media and public relations, licensing, design, and merchandising for Isaac Mizrahi, and has worked to help launch Isaac Mizrahi at Target, LC, and QVC. Ms. Gardini has a B.A. from Barnard College and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law, and currently serves on the board of trustees of Brearley School in New York City.

 

Seth Burroughs is our Executive Vice President of Business Development and Treasury. From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Burroughs served as Vice President of NexCen Brands, Inc., where he was responsible for M&A and Strategic initiatives for the Company.  At NexCen, Mr. Burroughs oversaw over $300 million in acquisitions. Prior to his role at NexCen, from 2003 to 2006 Mr. Burroughs served as Director of M&A Advisory and Investor Relations at UCC Capital Corp., a financing company specializing in consumer branded products M&A and the securitization of intellectual property, where he worked on an additional $500 million in acquisitions and $300 million in specialty financing as an advisor to consumer branded products companies in the franchising and apparel industries. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Burroughs worked as a Senior Financial Analyst at The Pullman Group where he was involved with structuring the first securitizations of music royalties including the Bowie Bonds, and as a Financial Analyst at Merrill Lynch’s private client group. Mr. Burroughs is a graduate of The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and serves on the board of directors of the Young Learners of New York, a charity focused on providing equipment and funding to public middle schools of New York City.

 

Jeffrey Cohen has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2011. Jeffrey Cohen has a unique and deep background in American retail. From 2000 to present, he has served as Co-Chairman of Earthbound, LLC.  Mr. Cohen oversees all business and creative operations for Earthbound. Earthbound is a full service brand design and licensing business. Since Mr. Cohen joined Earthbound, Earthbound managed brands have generated over $10 Billion in retail sales. From 1983 to 1999, Mr. Cohen served as Principal and EVP of Conway Stores, a major NY based deep discount retail business founded by his father in 1942. At Conway, Mr. Cohen was involved in all aspects of the business operation including significant involvement in merchandising and operations.  Jeff served for 10 years on the Executive Board and as Chairman of the Board of Education at Hillel Yeshiva. Jeff is currently Chairman of the Board of the Allegra Franco Sephardic Women’s Teachers College.

 

Mark DiSanto has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2011. From 1988 to the present, Mr. DiSanto has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Triple Crown Corporation a regional real estate development and investment company with commercial and residential development projects exceeding 7 million square feet. Mr. DiSanto received a degree in business administration from Villanova University’s College of Commerce and Finance, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Toledo College of Law and an MS degree from Columbia University.

 

Todd Slater has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2011. Mr. Slater has a broad and distinguished background in the retail and branded consumer sectors, and currently serves as a managing director for Threadstone Partners, a leading independent advisory, trend analysis and consulting firm, specializing in the consumer and retail sectors. Prior to this, Mr. Slater served as a Managing Director at Lazard Capital Markets. At Lazard and then Lazard Capital Markets, Mr. Slater led the retail and branded consumer research team from 1996-2011, where he won numerous industry awards, including the #1 “Best Analyst” ranking by Starmine and the Financial Times in Specialty Retail, and the #2 “Best On The Street” in the Clothing and Accessory sectors over a period of many years. Prior to joining Lazard, Mr. Slater was a Vice President and headed the retail and consumer research team at UBS Securities from 1992-1996, where he was ranked by Institutional Investor as #1 “Up and Comer” in the Textile and Apparel space. During this period, Mr. Slater was President of the Textile and Apparel Analyst Group in NY from 1999-2002. Before becoming a top retail and consumer industry analyst, Mr. Slater began his career at Macy’s New York, where he started in the Executive Training Program, rising to senior executive positions in merchandising, buying, and store management from 1984-1992. Mr. Slater received a B.A. in French Literature from Tufts University, and also completed a year of studies at Science Po (Institute d’Etudes Politiques) in Paris, France.

 

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Edward Jones, III has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2011. In a career that has spanned over thirty-five years in the fashion industry, Mr. Jones has been recognized as a marketing and brand visionary.  Mr. Jones began his career in retail in Dallas, Texas with Hartmarx. Mr. Jones then moved on to Neiman Marcus where he spent five years in various men’s merchandising and buying positions. In his career Edward Jones has held positions in major companies that include CEO (Perry Ellis Men’s, Women’s & International; Segrets Inc., GM Design Inc.), President (Calvin Klein, Esprit, Haggar Women’s), Director International Licensing (Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein), Creative Director (Haggar Women’s), Chief Merchandising Officer (Haggar Men’s & Women’s). For the past four years, he has been active as an advisor in the fashion apparel, accessory and footwear markets in numerous brand and company strategies and M&A assignments. During this period he has participated in the review and analysis of over sixty companies or brands. He has advised on brand and business model strategy in over half of these companies.

 

Howard Liebman has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2011. From 2008 to the present, Mr. Liebman has served as a Director and member of the Executive Committee of Federation Employment and Guidance Services (FEGS) and as the chairman of its audit committee.  FEGS is a large not-for-profit health and human services organization providing a vast array of services to individuals and families throughout the greater New York area.  Mr. Liebman was a director of Sharper Image Corporation and served as chairman of its audit committee from 2006 to 2008.  In February 2008, Sharper Image filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

Howard Liebman was President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Hobart West Group, a provider of national court reporting and litigation support services from 2007 until the sale of the business in 2008.  Mr. Liebman served as a consultant to Hobart from 2006 to 2007.  Mr. Liebman was President, Chief Financial Officer and director of Shorewood Packaging Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange multinational manufacturer of high-end value-added paper and paperboard packaging for the entertainment, tobacco, cosmetics and other consumer products markets.  Mr. Liebman joined Shorewood in 1994 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and served as its President from 1999 until Shorewood was acquired by International Paper in 2000.  Mr. Liebman continued as Executive Vice President of Shorewood until his retirement in 2005.  Mr. Liebman is a Certified Public Accountant and was an audit partner with Deloitte and Touche LLP (and its predecessors) from 1974 to 1994.

 

Directors’ Qualifications

 

In furtherance of our corporate governance principles, each of our directors brings unique qualities and qualifications to our board.  We believe that all of our director nominees and directors have a reputation for honesty, integrity, and adherence to high ethical standards.  They each have demonstrated business acumen, leadership and an ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as a commitment to serve XCel and our Board.  The following descriptions demonstrate the qualifications of each director:

 

Robert D’Loren has extensive experience in and knowledge of the licensing and commercial business industries and financial markets.  This knowledge and experience, including his experience as director, president and chief executive officer of a global brand management company provide us with valuable insight to formulate and create the Company’s acquisition strategy and how to manage and license acquired brands.

 

Marisa Gardini has operated and co-owned the Isaac Mizrahi Brand for over nine years and has a unique knowledge of the brand and its position in the marketplace.

 

Jeffrey Cohen has a strong retail industry background with experience in licensing, consumer brand management and merchandising and has developed relationships with various retailers.  His background includes the management of the Isaac Mizrahi Brand through his positions with Earthbound.

 

Mark DiSanto has experience in building and running businesses and brings his strong business acumen to the Board.

 

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Todd Slater has extensive knowledge and experience in the retail and branded consumer sector industry, through his senior positions at investment banking firms, focusing on retail and consumer research, and his senior positions at Macy’s.  Mr. Slater also brings relationships with various retailers and businesses in the consumer products markets.

 

Edward Jones III brings over 35 years of experience in the fashion industry, as well as relationships in the fashion and apparel industries.

 

Howard Liebman brings extensive knowledge of accounting, the capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting and financial strategies from his extensive public accounting experience and prior service as Chief Financial Officer of a public company.

 

Key Employees

 

Isaac Mizrahi is Chief Design Officer for the Isaac Mizrahi Brand.  Mr. Mizrahi founded the Isaac Mizrahi New York brand in 1987 and has been the President and Chief Designer of IM Ready.  As Chief Design Officer, Mr. Mizrahi is responsible for design and design direction for all brands under the Isaac Mizrahi Business, including the Isaac Mizrahi New York brand, which is still sold in Bergdorf Goodman and other luxury retailers.  In December 2009, Mr. Mizrahi launched his lifestyle collection, Isaac Mizrahi Live! on QVC for IM Ready.  Under IM Ready’s design agreement with LC, Mr. Mizrahi also serves as the creative director for the Liz Claiborne New York line at QVC.  Previously, Mr. Mizrahi teamed with Target in 2003 to launch an innovative collection of chic and stylish clothing and accessories for women.  Mr. Mizrahi has received four awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), including two awards for Designer of the Year and an award in 1996 for the documentary “Unzipped”. Mr. Mizrahi’s media presence includes publishing the book “How to Have Style” in 2008, and appearances and roles in films and television shows, including “Sex in the City,” “Ugly Betty” and “Celebrity Jeopardy” and has hosted his own series, Bravo’s “The Fashion Show,” as well as series on the Oxygen Network and the Style Network. Mr. Mizrahi is also the host of the media program Project Runway All-Stars which begins airing in the first quarter of 2012.  Mr. Mizrahi has also designed costumes and/or directed productions for the Metropolitan Opera, the Mark Morris Dance Company, the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and the Brooklyn Youth Choir, and has served on the board of directors of and is actively involved with the Good Shepherd Services which provides services to underserviced children.

 

Employment Agreements with Executives and Key Employees

 

Robert D’Loren.   On September 22, 2011, and effective as of September 16, 2011, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with Robert D’Loren for him to serve as our Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, we shall use our reasonable best efforts to cause Mr. D’Loren to be nominated to our Board of Directors and to serve as our Chairman of the Board during the term of the agreement.  Following the initial three-year term, the agreement will be automatically renewed for one year terms thereafter unless either party gives written notice of intent to terminate at least 90 days prior to such termination.  Mr. D’Loren’s salary for the first year, starting on the Closing Date, is $240,000, for the second year, it is $530,000 and for third year it is $580,000.  The board or the compensation committee may approve increases (but not decreases) from time to time.  Following the initial three-year term, the base salary shall be reviewed at least annually.  We will also reimburse Mr. D’Loren for up to $50,000 of undocumented expenses each calendar year. In addition, Mr. D’Loren will receive an allowance for an automobile appropriate for his level of position, and the Company shall pay (in addition to monthly lease or other payments) all of the related expenses for gasoline, insurance, maintenance, repairs or any other costs with Mr. D’Loren’s automobile.

 

Bonus.  Mr. D’ Loren is eligible for an annual cash bonus of up to $450,000 per year based on annual EBITDA targets.  The cash bonus is a portion of five percent of the licensing income in excess of $8,000,000 earned and received by us, in accordance with the following schedule:

 

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Annual Level of Target
EBITDA Achieved for each
fiscal year ending December 31,
2011 and thereafter		     Percentage of 5% of the
licensing income earned by the
Company in excess of $8 million		  
         
0%-49%     0 %
         
50%-69%     60 %
         
70%-89%     80 %
         
90%-100%     100 %

 

Severance.  If Mr. D’Loren’s employment is terminated by us without “cause”, or if Mr. D’Loren resigns with “good reason”, or if we fail to renew the term, then Mr. D’Loren will be entitled to receive his unpaid base salary and cash bonuses through the termination date and an amount equal to the base salary in effect on the termination date for the longer of two years from the termination date and the remainder of the then-current term.  Additionally, Mr. D’Loren would be entitled to two times the average annual cash bonuses paid in the preceding 12 months.  Mr. D’Loren would also be entitled to continue to participate in our group medical plan, subject to certain conditions, for a period of 18 months from the termination date.

 

Change of Control.  In the event Mr. D’Loren’s employment is terminated within twelve months following a change of control by the Company without cause or by Mr. D’Loren with good reason, he would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to two times (i) his base salary in effect on the termination date for the longer of two years from the termination date and the remainder of the then-current term and (ii) two times the average annual cash bonuses paid in the preceding 12 months, minus $100.  “Change of control,” as defined in Mr. D’Loren’s employment agreement, means a merger or consolidation to which we are a party, a sale, lease or other transfer, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, or a sale or transfer by our stockholders of voting control, in a single transaction or a series of transactions.

 

Warrants.  On the Closing Date, Mr. D’Loren received a warrant to purchase 239,250 shares of our Common Stock with an exercise price equal to $5.00 per share.  The warrant vested and became exercisable on the Closing Date and has a ten-year term.  The shares of Common Stock underlying the warrant have customary piggy back registration and cashless exercise rights.

 

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.  During the term of his employment by the Company and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment (unless Mr. D’Loren’s employment was terminated without cause or was terminated by him for good reason, in which case only for his term of employment and a six-month period after the termination of such employment), Mr. D’Loren may not permit his name to be used by or participate in any business or enterprise (other than the mere passive ownership of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market) that engages or proposes to engage in the Company’s business in the United States, its territories and possessions and any foreign country in which the Company does business as of the date of termination of such employment, other than the Company and its subsidiaries.  Also during his employment and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment, Mr. D’Loren may not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or solicit, induce or attempt to induce any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, a corporate officer, general manager or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or hire any such person unless such person’s employment was terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, employee or business relation and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

James Haran.  On September 22, 2011, and effective as of September 16, 2011, the Company entered into a two-year employment agreement with James Haran for him to serve as our Chief Financial Officer.  Following the initial two-year term, the agreement will be automatically renewed for one year terms thereafter unless either party gives written notice of intent to terminate at least 30 days prior to such termination.  Mr. Haran’s salary for the first year starting on the Closing Date is $225,000 per year and for the second year it is $250,000.  The board or the compensation committee may approve increases (but not decreases) from time to time.   Following the initial two year term, the base salary shall be reviewed at least annually. In addition, Mr. Haran will receive a car allowance of $1,500 per month.

 

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Bonus.  Mr. Haran is eligible for a cash bonus of up to $50,000 based upon the following: 50% of the $50,000 cash bonus shall be paid to Mr. Haran if we achieve at least 70% of our budgeted EBITDA and 100% of the $50,000 cash bonus shall be paid to Mr. Haran if we achieve at least 90% of our budgeted EBITDA.

 

Severance.  If Mr. Haran’s employment is terminated by us without “cause”, or if Mr. Haran resigns with “good reason”, or if we fail to renew the term, then Mr. Haran will be entitled to receive his unpaid base salary and cash bonuses through the termination date and an amount equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for 12 months.  Mr. Haran would also be entitled to continue to participate in our group medical plan, subject to certain conditions, for a period of 12 months from the termination date.

 

Change of Control.  In the event Mr. Haran’s employment is terminated within twelve months following a change of control by the Company without cause or by Mr. Haran with good reason, Mr. Haran would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for 12 months following such termination.  “Change of control,” as defined in Mr. Haran’s employment agreement, means a merger or consolidation to which we are a party, a sale, lease or other transfer, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, or a sale or transfer by our stockholders of voting control, in a single transaction or a series of transactions.

 

Warrants.  On the Closing Date, Mr. Haran received a warrant to purchase 49,500 shares of our Common Stock with an exercise price equal to $5.00 per share.  The warrant vested and became exercisable on the Closing Date and has a ten-year term. The shares of Common Stock underlying the warrant have customary piggy back registration and cashless exercise rights.

 

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.  During the term of his employment by the Company and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment, Mr. Haran may not permit his name to be used by or participate in any business or enterprise (other than the mere passive ownership of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market) that engages or proposes to engage in the Company’s business in the United States, its territories and possessions and any foreign country in which the Company does business as of the date of termination of such employment, other than the Company and its subsidiaries.  Also during his employment and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment, Mr. Haran may not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or solicit, induce or attempt to induce any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, a corporate officer, general manager or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or hire any such person unless such person’s employment was terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, employee or business relation and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Giuseppe “Joe” Falco . As of August 1, 2011, and effective as of September 16, 2011, the Company entered into a two-year employment agreement with Joe Falco for him to serve as the President, Chief Operating Officer of the Isaac Mizrahi Brand.  Following the initial two-year term, the agreement will be automatically be renewed for a one year term, unless either party gives written notice of intent to terminate at least 30 days prior to such termination.  Mr. Falco’s salary for the first year starting on the Closing Date is $350,000 per year.  The board or the compensation committee may approve increases (but not decreases) from time to time, and his base salary shall be reviewed at least annually.  If the Closing Date does not occur on or prior to October 1, 2011, then Mr. Falco’s employment agreement shall terminate.

 

Bonus.  Mr. Falco is eligible for a cash bonus of up to $50,000 based upon the following: one half of one percent (0.5%) of all Isaac Mizrahi Live net sales in excess of $60 million on QVC as reported by QVC to the Company.

 

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Severance.  If Mr. Falco’s employment is terminated by us without “cause”, or if Mr. Falco resigns with “good reason”, or if we fail to renew the term, then Mr. Falco will be entitled to receive his unpaid base salary and cash bonuses through the termination date and an amount equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for six months.  Mr. Falco would also be entitled to continue to participate in our group medical plan, subject to certain conditions, for a period of six months from the termination date.

 

Warrants.  On the Closing Date, Mr. Falco received a warrant to purchase 100,000 shares of our Common Stock with an exercise price equal to $5.00 per share.  The warrant shall vest one half on the first anniversary of the Closing Date, and one half on the second anniversary of the Closing Date.  The warrant has a ten-year term. The shares of Common Stock underlying the warrant have customary piggy back registration and cashless exercise rights.

 

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.  During the term of his employment by the Company and for a six-month period after the termination of such employment, Mr. Falco may not permit his name to be used by or participate in any business or enterprise (other than the mere passive ownership of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market) that engages or proposes to engage in the Company’s business in the United States, its territories and possessions and any foreign country in which the Company does business as of the date of termination of such employment, other than the Company and its subsidiaries.  Also during his employment and for a six-month period after the termination of such employment, Mr. Falco may not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or solicit, induce or attempt to induce any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, a corporate officer, general manager or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or hire any such person unless such person’s employment was terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, employee or business relation and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  Such non-solicitation provisions, however, do not apply to any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with whom Mr. Falco had a prior business relationship before he started performing services for the Company.

 

Marisa Gardini.   On May 19, 2011 and effective on the Closing Date, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with Marisa Gardini such that she will serve as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning of the Company.  Following the initial three-year term, the agreement will be renewable, at the option of the Company, for two successive one-year periods on the same terms and conditions as those in effect during the third year of the initial term.  Thereafter, the agreement will renew automatically for one-year periods, unless either party gives written notice of intent to terminate at least 30 days prior to such termination.  Ms. Gardini’s salary will be $250,000, $250,000 and $500,000 per annum, respectively, in the first three successive 12-month periods following the effective date of the agreement.  The Board or the compensation committee may approve increases (but not decreases) in Ms. Gardini’s base salary from time to time, and it shall be subject to review on the third anniversary of Ms. Gardini’s employment agreement and each anniversary thereafter during the term of the agreement.

 

Bonus.  Ms. Gardini has the right to participate in all employee bonus plans offered to other executives and senior management and such other bonus payments as the Board, or the compensation committee of the Board, may approve in its sole discretion.

 

Severance.  If Ms. Gardini’s employment is terminated by us without “cause”, or if Ms. Gardini resigns with “good reason”, or if we fail to renew the term, then Ms. Gardini will be entitled to receive her unpaid base salary and cash bonuses through the termination date and an amount equal to her base salary in effect on the termination date for the longer of six months and the remainder of the then-current term, but in no event exceeding 18 months.  Ms. Gardini would also be entitled to continue to participate in our group medical plan, subject to certain conditions, for the same period of time for which she would continue to receive her base salary pursuant to the terms of the agreement.

 

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Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.  During the term of her employment by the Company and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment (unless Ms. Gardini’s employment was terminated without cause or was terminated by him for good reason), Ms. Gardini may not permit her name to be used by or participate in any business or enterprise (other than the mere passive ownership of not more than 3% of the outstanding stock of any class of a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market) that engages or proposes to engage in the Company’s business anywhere in the world other than the Company and its subsidiaries.  Also during her employment and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment, Ms. Gardini may not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or solicit, induce or attempt to induce any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, a corporate officer, general manager or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or hire any such person unless such person’s employment was terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, employee or business relation and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Seth Burroughs.   On September 22, 2011, and effective as of September 16, 2011, entered into a two-year employment agreement with Seth Burroughs for him to serve as our Executive Vice President – Business Development and Treasury.  Following the initial two-year term, the agreement will be automatically renewed for one year terms thereafter unless either party gives written notice of intent to terminate at least 30 days prior to such termination.  Mr. Burroughs’ salary for the first year commencing on the Closing Date is $175,000 and it is $200,000 for the second year.  The Board or the compensation committee may approve increases (but not decreases) from time to time.  Following the initial two-year term, the base salary shall be reviewed at least annually.

 

Bonus.  Mr. Burroughs is eligible for cash bonuses as follows:  (i) for any acquisition completed by us with a purchase price of an amount that is equal to or greater than $10 million, but less than $25 million, he shall be paid $50,000; (ii) for any acquisition completed by us with a purchase price of an amount that is equal to or greater than $25 million, but less than $75 million, he shall be paid $100,000; (iii) for any acquisition completed by us with a purchase price of an amount that is equal to or greater than $75 million, but less than $150 million, he shall be paid $125,000; and (iv) for any acquisition completed by us with a purchase price of an amount that is equal to or greater than $150 million, he shall be paid $150,000.

 

Severance.  If Mr. Burroughs’ employment is terminated by us without “cause”, or if Mr. Burroughs resigns with “good reason”, or if we fail to renew the term, then Mr. Burroughs will be entitled to receive his unpaid base salary and cash bonuses through the termination date and an amount equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for 12 months.  Mr. Burroughs would also be entitled to continue to participate in our group medical plan, subject to certain conditions, for a period of 12 months from the termination date.

 

Warrants.  On the Closing Date, Mr. Burroughs received a warrant to purchase 50,000 shares of our Common Stock with an exercise price equal to $5.00 per share.  The warrant vested and became exercisable on the Closing Date and has a ten-year term. The shares of Common Stock underlying the warrant have customary piggy back registration and cashless exercise rights.

 

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.  During the term of his employment by the Company and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment, Mr. Burroughs may not permit his name to be used by or participate in any business or enterprise (other than the mere passive ownership of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market) that engages or proposes to engage in the Company’s business in the United States, its territories and possessions and any foreign country in which the Company does business as of the date of termination of such employment, other than the Company and its subsidiaries.  Also during his employment and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment, Mr. Burroughs may not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or solicit, induce or attempt to induce any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, a corporate officer, general manager or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or hire any such person unless such person’s employment was terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, employee or business relation and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

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Isaac Mizrahi.   On May 19, 2011 and effective on the Closing Date, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with Isaac Mizrahi such that he will serve as the Chief Design Officer of Isaac Mizrahi Brand.  Following the initial three-year term, the agreement will be renewable, at the option of the Company, for two successive one-year periods on the same terms and conditions as those in effect during the third year of the initial term.  Thereafter, the agreement will renew automatically for one-year periods, unless either party gives written notice of intent to terminate at least 30 days prior to such termination.  Mr. Mizrahi’s salary will be $500,000, $500,000 and $1,000,000 per annum, respectively, in the first three successive 12-month periods following the effective date of the agreement.  The Board or the compensation committee may approve increases (but not decreases) in Mr. Mizrahi’s base salary from time to time, and it shall be subject to review on the third anniversary of Mr. Mizrahi’s employment agreement and each anniversary thereafter during the term of the agreement.

 

Mr. Mizrahi is required to devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; however, Mr. Mizrahi is the principal of IM Ready and Laugh Club, Inc., and accordingly, he may undertake promotional activities related thereto (including the promotion of his name, image, and likeness) through television, video, and other media (and retain any compensation he receives for such activities) (referred to as “Retained Media Rights”) so long as such activities (i) do not utilize the IM Trademarks or interfere with his employment duties or (ii) are consented to by the Company.  The Company believes that it benefits from Mr. Mizrahi’s independent promotional activities by increased brand awareness of IM Brands and the IM Trademarks.

 

Bonus.  Mr. Mizrahi has the right to a bonus if the net royalty income exceeds twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) in the twelve-month period commencing on October 1, 2011, or in any successive twelve-month period thereafter. The bonus, if any, is equal to five-percent (5%) of the net royalty income in such twelve-month period in excess of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000).  As soon as practicable, and not later than 60 days after the end of such twelve-month period, the Company shall deliver to Mr. Mizrahi: (i) an independently audited statement certifying the net royalty income for the period, (ii) a statement from the Company calculating the amount of the bonus, and (iii) at Mr. Mizrahi’s request, supporting documentation of the determination of the net royalty income amount for the period.  The bonus, if any, shall be paid to Mr. Mizrahi no later than 30 days after the delivery of the statements described above in (i) and (ii). In addition to, and not in lieu of, the foregoing, Mr. Mizrahi has the right to participate in all employee bonus plans offered to other executives and senior management and such other bonus payments as the Board, or the compensation committee of the Board, may approve in its sole discretion.

 

Under Mr. Mizrahi’s employment agreement with the Company, “Net Royalty Income” means booked revenue for the Company’s business (acquiring and licensing consumer brands worldwide), less the sum of advertising royalties, commissions paid to third parties, payments under royalty sharing or participation agreements, and international withholding (solely to the extent the Company or its affiliates are unable to claim a federal tax credit with respect to such international withholding) and other transfer taxes, in each case to the extent related to such booked revenue, calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP accounting standards; provided, however, that, (i) Net Royalty Income shall not include any deferred revenues recognized during the period for which Net Royalty Income is being calculated for which the Company and IM Brands have not received the related payment, and (ii) in the event of the termination of a license agreement with respect to the Company’s business, the calculation of Net Royalty Income shall not include any revenue accelerated as a result of termination for which termination the Company or its affiliates have not received the related payment.

 

Severance.  If Mr. Mizrahi’s employment is terminated by us without “cause”, or if Mr. Mizrahi resigns with “good reason”, or if we fail to renew the term, then Mr. Mizrahi will be entitled to receive his unpaid base salary and cash bonuses through the termination date and an amount equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for the longer of six months and the remainder of the then-current term, but in no event exceeding 18 months.  Mr. Mizrahi would also be entitled to continue to participate in our group medical plan, subject to certain conditions, for the same period of time for which he would continue to receive his base salary pursuant to the terms of the agreement.

 

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Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.  During the term of his employment by the Company and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment (unless Mr. Mizrahi’s employment was terminated without cause or was terminated by him for good reason), Mr. Mizrahi may not permit his name to be used by or participate in any business or enterprise (other than the mere passive ownership of not more than 3% of the outstanding stock of any class of a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market) that engages or proposes to engage in the Company’s business anywhere in the world other than the Company and its subsidiaries.  Also during his employment and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment, Mr. Mizrahi may not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or solicit, induce or attempt to induce any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, a corporate officer, general manager or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or hire any such person unless such person’s employment was terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, employee or business relation and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among our directors or officers.  

 

Board Classification

 

Our Restated & Amended Bylaws provide that our board of directors be divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III). Commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders held after the adoption of the Restated & Amended Bylaws, the Class I directors will serve until the following annual meeting of stockholders, the Class II directors until the next successive annual meeting of stockholders, and the Class III directors until the third annual meeting of stockholders, in each case, until their successor(s) are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders commencing with the first annual meeting following the adoption of the Restated & Amended Bylaws, each of the successors to the directors of the Class whose term shall have expired that year shall be elected for a three-year term.

 

Board Compensation

 

There are no agreements with respect to the election of Directors. Other than described in Section 10 below, we have not compensated our directors for service on our Board of Directors, any committee thereof, or reimbursed for expenses incurred for attendance at meetings of our Board of Directors and/or any committee of our Board of Directors.

 

Independence of the Board of Directors

 

We are not a “listed issuer” as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. We use the definition of independence of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. The board has determined that Messrs. Todd Slater, Howard Liebman, Edward Jones, III, Jeffrey Cohen and Mark DiSanto are independent.  Each current member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee is independent and meets the applicable rules and regulations regarding independence for such committee, including those set forth in pertinent NASDAQ listing standards, and that each member is free of any relationship that would interfere with his individual exercise of independent judgment.

 

Code of Ethics

 

On September 29, 2011, we adopted a code of ethics that applies to our officers, employees and directors, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and senior executives. Our Code of Ethics can be accessed on our website, www.xcelbrands.com.

 

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Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

Our board of directors has appointed an Audit Committee which consists of Messrs. Liebman and DiSanto.  Each of such persons has been determined to be an “independent director” under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market, which is the independence standard that was adopted by our board of directors.  The Board has determined that Mr. Liebman meets the requirements to serve as the Audit Committee Financial Expert by our board of directors.  The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by our board of directors.  The Audit Committee assists the board of directors by providing oversight of our accounting and financial reporting processes, appoints the independent registered public accounting firm, reviews with the registered independent registered public accounting firm the scope and results of the audit engagement, approves professional services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, considers the range of audit and non-audit fees and reviews the adequacy of internal accounting controls.

 

Compensation Committee

 

Our board of directors has appointed a Compensation Committee consisting of Messrs. DiSanto and Jones.  Each of such persons has been determined to be an “independent director” under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market.  Our board of directors has adopted a written Compensation Committee Charter that sets forth the committee’s responsibilities.  The committee is responsible for determining all forms of compensation for our executive officers, and establishing and maintaining executive compensation practices designed to enhance long-term stockholder value.

 

Nominating Committee

 

Our board of directors has appointed a Nominating Committee consisting of Messrs. DiSanto and Jones.  Each of such persons has been determined to be an “independent director” under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market.  Our board of directors has adopted a written Nominating Committee Charter that sets forth the committee’s responsibilities.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following table sets forth information regarding all cash and non-cash compensation earned by or paid to all of the executive officers of the Company and former executive officers served during the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011, for services in all capacities to the Company:

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

                                          
                           Option &    Nonqualified           
                          Warrant    Deferred         
Executive  Title   Year    Salary    Bonus (3)    Stock
Awards		    

Awards

(4)

    Compensation
Earnings		    All Other
Compensation		    Total 
Robert W. D’Loren (1)  CEO, Chairman   2011   $92,733   $14,034   $-   $205,313   $-   $7,543   $319,623 
James F. Haran (1)  CFO, Assist Sec.   2011   $65,625   $14,583   $-   $42,479   $-   $2,328   $125,015 
Seth Burroughs (1)  Sec, EVP   2011   $51,042   $10,000   $-   $42,908   $-   $-   $103,950 
Cristiano Germinario (2)  Former CEO   2011   $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $- 

__________

  (1) Executives did not receive compensation prior to the Merger on September 29, 2011.
  (2) Former CEO did not receive compensation in 2010 or 2011. Employment terminated September 29, 2011.
  (3) Bonuses are in accordance with Executive’s employment agreements.
  (4) Warrants were issued to Executives on the closing date of the Merger providing for each warrant to purchase 1 common share of stock for $5.00 per share, exercisable immediately. The detail for these awards are included in ‘Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End’ table below.

 

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

 

      Number of   Number of                 
      Securities   Securities                 
      Underlying   Underlying                 
      Unexercised   Unexercised       Option or   Number of   Value of 
      Options &   Options &       Warrant   Shares of   Shares of 
      Warrants,   Warrants,   Exercise   Expiration   Stock Not   Stock Not 
Executive  Title  Exercisable   Unexercisable   Price   Date   Vested   Vested 
Robert W. D’Loren  CEO, Chairman   239,250    -   $5.00    9/29/2021    -   $- 
James F. Haran  CFO, Assist Sec.   49,250    -   $5.00    9/29/2021    -   $- 
Seth Burroughs  Sec, EVP   50,000    -   $5.00    9/29/2021    -   $- 

 

Compensation of Directors

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to director's compensation for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

 

DIRECTORS COMPENSATION

 

          Fees                 Nonqualified              
          Earned or           Option &     Deferred              
          Paid  in     Stock     Warrant     Compensation     All Other        
Director   Year     Cash     Awards     Awards (1)     Earnings     Compensation     Total  
Edward Jones     2011     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550  
Howard Liebman     2011     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550  
Jeff Cohen     2011     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550  
Mark DiSanto     2011     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550  
Todd Slater     2011     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550     $ -     $ -     $ 8,550  

__________________

  (1) On October 17, 2011, each independent director was granted an option to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable for a period of five years at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. Such options vested one-third upon issuance and vest an additional one-third on each of the following two anniversaries of the issuance date.

 

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Director Compensation

 

The Company intends to pay its non-executive directors $2,000 for each Board and committee meeting attended up to a maximum of $8,000 per year, except that the chairman of each committee shall receive $3,000 for each such committee meeting attended up to a maximum of $12,000 per year.   So long as a principal of Earthbound serves as a member on the board of directors of the Company (Jeffrey Cohen, a principal of Earthbound, is currently serving as Earthbound’s designee to our board of directors), Earthbound has the right to appoint a board observer.  Earthbound appointed Jack Dweck, a principal of Earthbound and a principal stockholder of the Company, to be its observer on the board of directors of the Company.  As an observer, Mr. Dweck has the right to attend and observe all general meetings of the board of directors, but he has no other rights (including voting rights) and receives no compensation from the Company.

 

On June 1, 2012, each non-executive director was awarded 27,667 restricted shares. The shares vest on December 1, 2012, provided, however that each director may extend the vesting date by six-month increments on one or more occasions in his or her sole discretion.

  

2011 Equity Incentive Plan

 

As of the Closing Date, the Company assumed the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Old XCel as approved by Old XCel’s board of directors and stockholders. The purpose of the Plan is to enable the Company to offer its employees, officers, directors, consultants and others whose past, present and/or potential contributions to the Company have been, are or will be important to the success of the Company, an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.

 

·The Plan provides for the grant of stock options or restricted stock (any grant under the Plan, an “Award”).  The stock options may be incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options.

 

·A total of 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock are eligible for issuance under the Plan, and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options may be granted under the Plan is 2,000,000.

 

·The Plan may be administered by the Board of Directors or a committee consisting of two or more members of the Board of Directors appointed by the Board (for purposes of this description, any such committee, a “Committee”).

 

·Officers and other employees of our Company or any parent or subsidiary of our Company who are at the time of the grant of an Award employed by us or any parent or subsidiary of our Company are eligible to be granted options or other Awards under the Plan.  In addition, non-qualified stock options and other Awards may be granted under the Plan to any person, including, but not limited to, directors, independent agents, consultants and attorneys who the Board or the Committee, as the case may be, believes has contributed or will contribute to our success.

 

·With respect to incentive stock options granted to an eligible employee owning stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or the stock of a parent or subsidiary of our Company immediately before the grant (each, a “10% Stockholder”), such incentive stock option shall not be exercisable more than 5 years from the date of grant.

 

·The exercise price of an incentive stock option will not be less than the fair market value of the shares underlying the option on the date the option is granted, provided, however, that the exercise price of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% Stockholder may not be less than 110% of such fair market value.

 

·The exercise price of a non-qualified stock option may not be less than fair market value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the option on the date the option is granted.

 

·Under the Plan, we may not, in the aggregate, grant incentive stock options that are first exercisable by any individual optionee during any calendar year (under all such plans of the optionee’s employer corporation and its “parent” and “subsidiary” corporations, as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code) to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the underlying stock (determined at the time the option is granted) exceeds $100,000.

 

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·Certain Awards made under the Plan may be granted so that they qualify as “performance-based compensation” (as this term is used in Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder) and are exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Code Section 162(m) (these Awards are referred to as “Performance-Based Awards”).  Under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), our tax deduction may be limited to the extent total compensation paid to the chief executive officer, or any of the four most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief executive officer) exceeds $1 million in any one tax year.  Among other criteria, Awards only qualify as performance-based awards if at the time of grant the compensation committee is comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” (as this term is used in Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder).  In addition, we must obtain stockholder approval of material terms of performance goals for such “performance-based compensation.”

 

·All stock options and certain stock awards, performance awards, and stock units granted under the Plan, and the compensation attributable to such Awards, are intended to (i) qualify as performance-based awards or (ii) be otherwise exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m).

 

·No options or other Awards may be granted on or after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan.

 

On April 17, 2012, the following executive officers and directors of the Company the number of shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company set forth opposite each person’s name:

 

Name Number of Shares of
Restricted Stock
Robert W. D’Loren 700,000
James F. Haran 150,000
Seth Burroughs 100,000
Marisa Gardini 75,000
Giuseppe Falco 75,000

 

The vesting date of the restricted stock granted to Mr. D'Loren, Mr. Haran, Mr. Burroughs and Ms. Gardini is November 15, 2012, provided, however, that each such executive officer may extend the vesting date by six-month increments in his or her sole discretion. The vesting date of the restricted stock granted to Mr. Falco is May 15, 2014, provided, however, that Mr. Falco may extend the vesting date by six-month increments in his sole discretion.

 

Also on April 17, 2012, the Company granted 50,000 shares of restricted stock and options to purchase an aggregate of 75,000 shares of Common Stock to four non-executive employees of the Company. The exercise price per share of the options is $3.00, the fair market value on the grant date, and 50% of the options will vest on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date.

 

On June 1, 2012, the following executive officers and directors of the Company were awarded the number of shares of restricted Common Stock set forth opposite each person's name:

 

Name    Number of Shares of Restricted Stock
Robert W. D' Loren   132,385  
James F. Haran   27,390
Seth Burroughs   27,667
Giuseppe Falco   55,333
Mark DiSanto   27,667
Edward Jones   27,667
Howard Liebman   27,667
Jeff Cohen     27,667
Todd Slater   27,667

 

Also on June 1, 2012, the Company granted 13,833 shares of restricted stock to one non-executive employee of the Company.

 

The vesting date of the restricted stock is December 1, 2012, provided, however, that each grantee may extend the vesting date by six-month increments on one or more occasions in his or her sole discretion.

  

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

 

The following table lists, as of July 5, 2012, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by (i) each person or entity known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock; (ii) each officer and director of the Company, and (iii) all officers and directors as a group.  Information relating to beneficial ownership of Common Stock by our principal stockholders and management is based upon information furnished by each person using “beneficial ownership” concepts under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of the security, or investment power, which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of the security. The person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which he or she may not have any pecuniary beneficial interest. Except as noted below, each person has sole voting and investment power.

 

The percentages below are calculated based on 7,517,387 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

 

    Common Stock Beneficially  
    Owned  
    Number of     Percentage of  
    Shares     Class  
    Beneficially     Beneficially  
Named executive officers and directors :   Owned     Owned  
Robert W. D’Loren (1)     1,597,918       20.6 %
James F. Haran (2)     391,093       5.2 %
Marisa Gardini (3)     512,950       6.8 %
Seth Burroughs (5)     327,136       4.3 %
Todd Slater (6)     44,334     *  
Howard Liebman (6)     44,334     *  
Edward Jones, III (6)     44,334     *  
Jeffrey Cohen (7)     644,444       8.6 %
Mark DiSanto (8)     452,950       6.0 %
Giuseppe Falco (9)     130,333       1.7 %
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons)     4,189,826       52.7 %
5% Shareholders:                
Isaac Mizrahi (4)     1,428,049       19.0 %
Jack Dweck (10)     694,578       9.3 %
Trafelet Capital Management, LP (11)     666,667       8.9 %

________

* Less than 1%.

 

65
 

 

(1)Represents (i) 526,283 shares owned by the Irrevocable Trust of Rose Dempsey of which Mr. D’Loren and Mr. DiSanto are the trustees and as to which Mr. D’Loren has sole voting and dispositive power, (ii) 239,250 shares issuable upon exercise of immediately exercisable warrants and (iii) 832,385 shares of unvested restricted stock as to which Mr. D’Loren may vote. Does not include 271,116 shares held by the D’Loren Family Trust (the “Family Trust”) of which Mark DiSanto is a trustee and over which he has sole voting and dispositive power.

 

(2)Includes (i) 164,203 shares, (ii) immediately exercisable warrants to purchase 49,500 shares and (iii) 177,390 shares of unvested restricted stock as to which Mr. Haran may vote.

 

(3) Includes 75,000 shares of unvested restricted stock as to which Ms. Gardini may vote. Pursuant to a voting agreement, IM Ready and its principals agreed to appoint Robert D’Loren, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as IM Ready’s irrevocable proxy and attorney-in-fact with respect to the shares of Common Stock received by IM Ready in connection with the Merger, including those 137,950 shares distributed to Ms. Gardini.

 

(4) Pursuant to a voting agreement, IM Ready and its principals agreed to appoint Robert D’Loren, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as irrevocable proxy and attorney-in-fact with respect to the shares of Common Stock received by IM Ready in connection with the Merger, including those 1,521,382 shares distributed to, and held by, Mr. Mizrahi.

 

(5)Includes (i) 149,469 shares, (ii) immediately exercisable warrants to purchase 50,000 shares and (iii) 127,667 shares of unvested restricted stock as to which Mr. Burroughs may vote.

 

(6)Represents (i) 27,667 shares of unvested restricted stock as to which the holder may vote and (ii) 16,667 shares issuable upon exercise of options that became exercisable on October 17, 2011.  Does not include 33,333 shares issuable upon exercise of options which will not become exercisable within 60 days of May 18, 2012.

 

(7)Represents (i) 27,667 shares of unvested restricted stock as to which Mr. Cohen may vote, (ii) 16,667 shares issuable upon exercise of options that became exercisable on October 17, 2011, (iii) 400,110 shares held by 3 Sixty, Inc. and (iv) 200,000 shares held by Earthbound LLC.  Jeffrey Cohen and Jack Dweck have shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Earthbound LLC.  Jeffrey Cohen has voting and dispositive power over the shares held by 3 Sixty, Inc. Does not include 33,333 shares issuable upon exercise of options which will not become exercisable within 60 days of May 18, 2012.

 

(8)Includes (i) 271,116 shares held by the Family Trust, of which Mark DiSanto is trustee of, and over which he has sole voting and dispositive power, (ii) 137,500 shares held by the Mark X. DiSanto Investment Trust, (ii) 27,667 shares of unvested restricted stock as to which Mr. DiSanto may vote and (iii) 16,667 shares issuable upon exercise of options that became exercisable on October 17, 2011.  Does not include 33,333 shares issuable upon exercise of options which will not become exercisable within 60 days of May 21, 2012.

 

(9)Represents shares of unvested restricted stock as to which Mr. Falco may vote. Does not include 100,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants, which will not become exercisable within 60 days of May 21, 2012.

 

(10) Represents (i) 300,089 shares held by Mr. Dweck, (ii) 200,000 shares held by Earthbound on the Closing Date and (iii) 194,489 shares by Mr. Dweck’s children.  Jeffrey Cohen and Jack Dweck have shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Earthbound LLC.

 

66
 

 

(11) Represents (i) 83,900 shares held by Delta International, LP, (ii) 41, 700 shares held by Delta Onshore, LP, (iii) 373,967 shares held by Delta Offshore Master, LP and (iv) 167,100 shares held by Delta Pleiades, Trafelet Capital Management has informed us that it advises the above-referenced accounts and that Trafelet Capital Management, LP has discretion over these accounts.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

IPX Capital, LLC

 

Overview

 

Old XCel and its wholly owned subsidiary IM Brands, collectively the “Buyers,” entered into the Purchase Agreement with IM Ready, whereby the Buyers acquired certain assets and assumed certain obligations of IM Ready. IPX Capital, LLC (“IPX”) entered into certain agreements with Old XCel and IM Ready whereby IPX provided services to both Old XCel and IM-Ready.  IPX and Old XCel have common ownership and common management.

 

IPX Capital, LLC – IM Ready-Made, LLC Advisory Service Agreement

 

IPX and IM Ready entered into an Advisory Service Agreement dated November 16, 2010 whereby IPX provided various advisory and consulting services to IM Ready including conducting an operational review of IM Ready, reviewing strategic alternatives for IM Ready’s business including the potential to complete a transaction with Old XCel, developing and preparing a brand positioning presentation including brand architecture strategy, conducting a review of the “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” and Liz Claiborne New York businesses on QVC and the related agreements, and conducting a due diligence review of IM Ready’s retail and couture operations and making restructuring recommendations on such retail and couture operations.  IPX’s service fees under the Advisory Service Agreement were based on its actual hourly billing rates, with a cap of $500,000.  IPX’s aggregate hourly billing exceeded $500,000, resulting in a payment to IPX from IM Ready of $500,000 on the Closing Date.

 

IPX Capital, LLC – Xcel Brands, Inc., Due Diligence Service Agreement

 

IPX and Old XCel entered into a Due Diligence Service Agreement dated December 3, 2010 whereby IPX provided various due diligence tasks relating to the Purchase Agreement including financial review of IM Ready, preparing business plans, financial projections and other documents required in connection with the transaction, advise the Buyers regarding the corporate, legal and financial structure of the transaction and assist the Buyers with the negotiation of documentation relating to the transaction. Market service fees for this type of engagement are typically either a fixed dollar amount or based upon hourly billing rates, plus reimbursement of direct expenses. IPX waived all of its fees it would have otherwise been entitled to, but not reimbursement of its direct expenses. Direct expenses incurred by, and reimbursable to, IPX by Old XCel of approximately $240,000 were paid following the Closing Date.

 

Amounts due to Stockholder

 

Robert D’Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and a principal stockholder of the Company, has advanced certain expenses including but not limited to legal fees, banking fees, lender fees and appraisals on behalf of Old XCel.  Following the Closing Date, Mr. D’Loren was reimbursed approximately $162,000 for these expenses.

 

Todd Slater

 

On August 12, 2011, Old XCel entered into a one year agreement which was amended on October 4, 2011, with Todd Slater, who has agreed to serve as a director of the Company commencing on the Appointment Date, for services related to the Company’s licensing strategy and introduction of potential licensees.  If during the term of the agreement or during the year following the expiration of the term of the agreement, the Company enters into a license or distribution agreement with a licensee introduced by Mr. Slater, Mr. Slater will receive a commission equal to fifteen percent (15%) of all net royalties received by the Company during the first term of such agreement, payable within thirty days of receipt of the net royalties.  The Company has paid Mr. Slater an advisory fee of $52,500 as compensation for strategic advisory services performed by Mr. Slater related to the licensing program of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, and agent fees of $16,275 for license agreements that Mr. Slater introduced to the Company.

 

67
 

 

Earthbound

 

Earthbound entered into a service agreement with Laugh Club on November 6, 2001 whereby Laugh Club engaged Earthbound to provide brand management and design services for mass-merchandised retail products for the Isaac Mizrahi Business (the “Earthbound Agreement”).  Isaac Mizrahi, individually, is the controlling member and manager of Laugh Club and IM Ready-Made, LLC.  On September 3, 2002, Laugh Club assigned all of the rights and obligations in the Earthbound Agreement to IM Ready. Earthbound has no common ownership, direct or indirect, with either IM Ready or Laugh Club.  The Earthbound Agreement expires December 31, 2014; however certain beneficial rights extend beyond the expiration date to Earthbound for as long as IM Ready receives revenues procured by Earthbound.

 

In connection with the consummation of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, Old XCel and Earthbound entered into the Contribution Agreement pursuant to which Earthbound contributed to Old XCel the Earthbound Agreement and the Earthbound Assets in exchange for 944,688 shares of Common Stock, and Earthbound agreed to purchase one Unit in the Private Placement. Old XCel terminated the Earthbound Agreement effective as of the Closing Date.  Additionally, so long as a principal of Earthbound serves as a member on the board of directors of the Company (Jeffrey Cohen, a principal of Earthbound, agreed to serve as a director commencing on the Appointment Date), Earthbound will have the right to appoint a board observer.  Earthbound has appointed Jack Dweck, a principal of Earthbound and a principal stockholder of the Company, as its observer.

 

Effective as of the Closing Date, IM Ready and Earthbound entered into a services agreement pursuant to which Earthbound provided transitional services to IM Ready, for which Earthbound received from IM Ready $600,000 in cash on the Closing Date and for which Earthbound will receive the Future Payment of $1,500,000 payable over the next five years. The Company assumed the obligations related to the Future Payment from IM Ready upon its acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business.

 

Licensing Agreement

 

On August 2, 2011, Old XCel entered into a licensing agent agreement with Adam Dweck, an Executive Vice President of Earthbound pursuant to which Mr. Dweck is entitled to a five percent (5%) commission on any royalties we receive under any new license agreements that he procures for us during the initial term of such license agreements. We also granted Mr. Dweck options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share.  One half of the options will vest on each of the first and second anniversary dates of the date of the award if Mr. Dweck procures licenses which generate $1 million or more of royalties for the Company during each such year. In addition, Mr. Dweck may earn the right to receive additional warrants upon the satisfaction of certain agreed upon target performance criteria.  Adam Dweck is the son of Jack Dweck.

 

Private Placement

 

Marisa Gardini, our Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and Marketing and, commencing on the Appointment Date, a director;  the Irrevocable Trust of Rose Dempsey; the D’Loren Family Trust; James Haran, our Chief Financial Officer; Seth Burroughs, our Executive Vice President of Business Development and Treasury; and Mark DiSanto, who has agreed to serve as a member of our board of directors commencing on the Appointment Date, purchased 2; .495; .255; .15; .10 and .25 Units in the Private Placement, respectively, for purchase prices of $1,000,000; $247,500; $127,500; $75,000; $50,000; and $125,000, respectively, on the same terms and conditions as other investors in the Private Placement.

 

68
 

 

IM Ready-Made, LLC

 

The Company and IM Ready-Made, LLC had transaction, consisting of revenue payments and expenses occurring before and after the Closing date, which were allocated to IM Ready for transactions occurring prior to the Closing Date and allocated to the Company occurring on and after the Closing date. As of December 31, 2011 IM Ready owes the Company approximately $85,000.

 

Review, Approval and Ratification of Related Party Transactions

 

Prior to the Merger, the Company had not adopted formal policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of transactions, such as those described above.  The Company intends that transactions with its executive officers, directors and significant shareholders will, on a going-forward basis, be subject to the review, approval or ratification of its board of directors, or an appropriate committee thereof.

 

INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

No expert or counsel named in this prospectus as having prepared or certified any part of this prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the Common Stock was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant or any of its parents or subsidiaries. Nor was any such person connected with the registrant or any of its parents or subsidiaries as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.

 

Legal Matters

 

Blank Rome LLP, New York, New York, has issued legal opinions as to the validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock offered under this prospectus.

 

Experts

 

The consolidated balance sheet of Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Successor”) as of December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, accumulated deficit, and cash flows for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 (referred to as the Successor period), as well as the audited balance sheet of the Isaac Mizrahi Business (a division of IM Read-Made, LLC) (the “Predecessor”) as of December 31, 2010, and the related statements of operations, changes in parent’s equity in unit, and cash flows for the periods January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010 (referred to as the Predecessor periods) have been included herein in reliance upon the report of Rothstein, Kass, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein and in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

69
 

 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012 F-2
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2012 F-3
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2012 F-4
   
Notes for Consolidated Financial Statements F-5 – F-14
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-15
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2011 F-16
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the periods from January 1, 2011 through September 28, 2011 and September 29, 2011 through December 31, 2011 F-17
   
Statement of Changes in Parent’s Equity in Unit and Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the periods from January 1, 2011 through September 28, 2011 and September 29, 2011 through December 31, 2011 F-18
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the periods from January 1, 2011 through September 28, 2011 and September 29, 2011 through December 31, 2011 F-19
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-20

 

F-1
 

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   March 31, 2012   December 31, 2011 
   (Unaudited)     
Assets          
Current Assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $2,946,000   $2,718,000 
Restricted cash   -    175,000 
Accounts receivable   2,424,000    2,191,000 
Prepaid expenses   336,000    401,000 
Other current assets   157,000    85,000 
Total current  assets   5,863,000    5,570,000 
Property and equipment:          
Leasehold improvements, furniture & equipment   1,443,000    1,399,000 
Less: accumulated  depreciation   153,000    76,000 
Total property and equipment   1,290,000    1,323,000 
Other Assets:          
Trademarks, goodwill and other intangibles, net   57,329,000    57,461,000 
Deferred finance costs, net   560,000    591,000 
Deposits   185,000    9,000 
Total other assets   58,074,000    58,061,000 
Total Assets  $65,227,000   $64,954,000 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity          
Current Liabilities          
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  $834,000   $878,000 
Deferred royalty payments, net of long term portion   411,000    503,000 
Other current liabilities   115,000    66,000 
Current portion of  long term debt   427,000    44,000 
Total current liabilities   1,787,000    1,491,000 
Long Term Liabilities:          
Term loan, net of short term portion   12,065,000    12,344,000 
Seller note   5,896,000    5,765,000 
Installment debt obligation, net of short term portion   1,058,000    1,114,000 
Contingent  obligations - due to seller   17,765,000    17,765,000 
Deferred tax liability   9,809,000    9,831,000 
Other long term liabilities, less current portion   27,000    26,000 
Total long term liabilities   46,620,000    46,845,000 
Total Liabilities   48,407,000    48,336,000 
           
Stockholders' Equity:          
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding        - 
Common stock, $.001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, 5,809,944 and 5,810,444 issued & outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively   6,000    6,000 
Paid in capital   17,944,000    17,904,000 
Accumulated deficit   (1,130,000)   (1,292,000)
Total stockholders' equity   16,820,000    16,618,000 
           
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  $65,227,000   $64,954,000 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

 

F-2
 

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31, 
   2012
Successor		   2011
Predecessor		 
         
Licensing and design revenue  $2,903,000   $2,895,000 
Other operating income   11,000    - 
Total revenues   2,914,000    2,895,000 
Direct licensing costs   34,000    - 
Net licensing  and design revenue   2,880,000    2,895,000 
           
Expenses          
Design and marketing costs   1,033,000    925,000 
General and administrative expenses   922,000    542,000 
Stock based compensation   28,000    - 
Depreciation and amortization   209,000    70,000 
Total expenses   2,192,000    1,537,000 
           
Operating income   688,000    1,358,000 
           
Interest and finance costs          
Interest expenses - debt   286,000    - 
Other interest and finance charges   257,000    - 
Total interest and finance costs   543,000    - 
           
Income before income taxes   145,000    1,358,000 
           
Provision (benefit) for income taxes   (17,000)   54,000 
           
Net income  $162,000   $1,304,000 
           
Earnings per share:          
Basic  $0.03      
Diluted  $0.02      
           
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:          
Basic   5,810,180      
Diluted   6,556,173      

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

 

F-3
 

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31, 
   2012
Successor		   2011
Predecessor		 
         
Cash flows from operating activities          
Net income  $162,000   $1,304,000 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization expense   209,000    70,000 
Amortization of deferred finance costs   31,000    - 
Stock-based compensation   28,000    - 
Amortization of Seller note discount   131,000    - 
Amortization of senior note discount   58,000    - 
Deferred income tax benefit   (22,000)   - 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (233,000)   (65,000)
Prepaid expenses   56,000    399,000 
Other assets   (73,000)   - 
Accounts payable  and accrued expenses   (32,000)   229,000 
Royalty advances   (99,000)   (762,000)
Other liabilities   73,000    - 
Net cash provided by operating activities   289,000    1,175,000 
           
Cash flows from investing activities          
Purchase of property and equipment   (44,000)   - 
Increase in long term security deposit   (175,000)   - 
Reduction of restricted cash   175,000    - 
Net cash used in investing activities   (44,000)   - 
           
Cash flows from financing activities          
Member distributions   -    (1,136,000)
Payment of expenses related to equity & recapitalization   (2,000)   - 
Repayment of installment debt obligation   (11,000)   - 
Repayment of lease obligation   (4,000)   - 
Net cash used in financing activities   (17,000)   (1,136,000)
           
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   228,000    39,000 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   2,718,000    46,000 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  $2,946,000   $85,000 
           
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information          
Warrants issued to Licensee to satisfy payables  $23,000      
           
Forfeiture of employee stock grants previously capitalized  $(2,000)     
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information,          
Cash paid during the period for income taxes  $-      
Cash paid during the period for interest  $316,000      

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

 

F-4
 

 

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

 

1.NATURE OF OPERATIONS, BACKGROUND, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND REVERSE ACQUISITION

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management of Xcel Brands, Inc., (Xcel, the "Company", “we”, “us”, or “our”), all adjustments (consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 (“Current Quarter”) are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year.

 

On September 29, 2011 (the “Acquisition Date”), the Company acquired from IM Ready-Made, LLC certain assets and assumed certain obligations (the “Isaac Mizrahi Isaac Mizrahi Business’) whereby the Isaac Mizrahi Business was deemed to be the Predecessor of the Company for financial statement presentation purposes. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements designate periods preceding the Acquisition Date as relating to the Predecessor and all references to periods on and after September 29, 2011 shall be referred to as Successor.

 

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011”).

 

2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Xcel Brands, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All material inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Presentation of Predecessor Financial Statements

 

The financial statements covered by the Predecessor have been prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Isaac Mizrahi Business was not a separate legal entity, thus the financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred if the Isaac Mizrahi Business had been operated as a separate legal entity.

 

All of the allocations and estimates in the accompanying Predecessor financial statements are based on assumptions that IM Ready and Xcel management (collectively “management”) believe are reasonable, and reasonably approximate the historical costs that the Isaac Mizrahi Business would have incurred as a separate entity. However, these allocations and estimates are not necessarily indicative of the costs and expenses that would have resulted if the Isaac Mizrahi Business had been operated as a separate entity. The allocation of expenses were made to comply with the guidance provided by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 1B1, “Allocation of Expenses and Related Disclosure in Financial Statements of Subsidiaries, Divisions or Lesser Business Components of another Entity”.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could be affected by those estimates.

 

F-5
 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amounts of the Company’s assets and liabilities approximate their fair value presented in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, due to their short maturities. 

 

Trademarks, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. The Company accounts for goodwill under the guidance of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350 – “Intangibles: Goodwill and Other”. Goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead tested for impairment, at least annually, in accordance with this guidance. This guidance also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment.

 

In accordance with the guidance of ASC Topic 350, long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and purchased intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

 

Contingent Obligations

 

Management will analyze and quantify the expected earn-out payments over the applicable pay-out period.  Management will assess no less frequently than each reporting period the status of contingent obligations and any expected changes in the fair market value of such contingent obligations.  Any change in the expected obligation will result in an expense or income recognized in the period in which it is determined fair market value of the carrying value has changed. There was no change in the contingent obligation for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense consists of the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted rates in effect during the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

 

ASC Topic 740 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. Tax positions shall initially be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions shall initially and subsequently be measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a probability of fifty percent (50%) or greater of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority, assuming full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts.

 

Significant Contracts

 

QVC Agreement

 

In connection with the Company’s agreement with QVC, Inc. (“QVC”) QVC is required to pay royalties based primarily on a percentage of QVC's net sales of Isaac Mizrahi branded merchandise. QVC royalty revenue represents a significant portion of the Company’s total revenues. Royalties from QVC totaled $1,900,000 and $1,650,000 for the Current Quarter and the Prior year Quarter, respectively, representing 65% and 63% of the Company’s total revenues, respectively. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had a receivable from QVC in the amount of $1,900,000, representing 78% of the Company’s receivables. As of March 31, 2011, the Predecessor had a receivable from QVC in the amount of $1,650,000 representing 90% of the Predecessor’s receivables.

 

LC Agreement

 

In connection with the Company’s agreement with Liz Claiborne, Inc. (“LC”) (the LC Agreement”) LC is required to pay the Company royalties based primarily on a percentage of royalties LC receives from QVC under a separate license agreement between LC and QVC (the “LC Agreement”). Revenues from the LC Agreement totaled $375,000 and $200,000 for the Current Quarter and the Prior Year Quarter, respectively, representing 13% and 7% of the Company’s total revenues. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had a receivable from LC in the amount of $569,000, representing 22% of the Company’s receivables. As of March 31, 2011, the Predecessor had a receivable from LC in the amount of $183,000 representing 10% of the Predecessor’s receivables.

 

LC/QVC Design fees

 

In connection with the Company’s design agreement with QVC for the term of the LCNY Agreement (the “Design Agreement”), QVC is required to provide certain design fees of the Company related to the Liz Claiborne New York brand.  Revenues from the Design Agreement totaled approximately $275,000 and $275,000 for the Current Quarter and the Prior Year Quarter, respectively, representing 9% and 9% of the Company’s total revenues.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of a sale arrangement exists, delivery has occurred and services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonable assured. The Company has two primary types of revenues: (i) royalties based on the sale of products by its licensees or other contractual partners, and (ii) design service fees based on services provided. Revenues from royalties are recognized when earned, which includes guaranteed minimum royalties, if any, and additional revenues based on a percentage of defined sales by our licensees or other contractual partners for each period. Royalties exceeding the guaranteed minimum amounts are recognized as income during the period that corresponds to the licensee’s or partner’s sales.

 

Design service fees are recorded and recognized in accordance with the terms and conditions of each design fee contract, including the Company meeting its obligations and providing the relevant services under each contract.  Generally, we record on a straight line basis each base fee as stated in each design fee service agreement for the covered period and, if applicable, we recognize additional payments received that relate to a future period as deferred revenue, until service is provided or revenue is othewise earned.

 

Stock Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718 by recognizing the fair value of stock-based compensation in the consolidated statement of operations.  The fair value of the Company’s stock option awards are estimated using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions and elections including expected stock price volatility and the estimated life of each award. In addition, the calculation of compensation costs requires that the Company estimate the number of awards that will be forfeited during the vesting period. The fair value of stock-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the awards.  For stock-based awards that vest based on performance conditions (e.g. achievement of certain milestones), expense is recognized when it is probable that the condition will be met.

 

F-6
 

 

Earnings per Share

 

Basic earnings per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect, in periods in which they have a dilutive effect, the effect of restricted stock-based awards and common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and warrants. The difference between basic and diluted weighted-average common shares results from the assumption that all dilutive stock options outstanding were exercised and all convertible notes have been converted into common stock.

 

As of March 31, 2012, of the total potentially dilutive shares related to restricted stock-based awards, stock options and warrants, 741,251 were anti-dilutive and not included in the computation of diluted shares outstanding. There are no comparative results for the prior year quarter.

 

A reconciliation of weighted average shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share follows:

 

   For the Three
Months Ended
March 31, 2012		 
     
Basic   5,810,180 
Effect of warrants and options   745,993 
Diluted   6,556,173 

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

3. Trademarks, Goodwill and Other Intangibles

 

Trademarks, goodwill and other intangibles, net consist of the following:

 

       March 31, 2012   December 31, 2011 
   Estimated   Gross       Gross     
   Lives in   Carrying   Accumulated   Carrying   Accumulated 
   Years   Amount   Amortization   Amount   Amortization 
                     
Indefinite life trademarks  Indefinite   $44,500,000   $-   $44,500,000   $- 
Goodwill  Indefinite    11,096,000    -    11,096,000    - 
Licensing agreements  4    2,000,000    267,000    2,000,000    135,000 
        $57,596,000   $267,000   $57,596,000   $135,000 

 

Amortization expense for intangible assets for the Current Quarter was $132,000. The trademarks of Isaac Mizrahi and related goodwill have been determined to have an indefinite useful life and accordingly, consistent with ASC Topic 350, no amortization has been recorded in the Company's unaudited consolidated statement of operations. Instead, each of these intangible assets are tested for impairment, at least annually, on an individual basis as separate single units of accounting, with any related impairment charge recorded to the statement of operations at the time of determining such impairment.  Similarly, consistent with ASC 360, there was no impairment of the indefinite-lived trademarks.

 

4.  Debt

 

The Company’s net carrying amount of debt is comprised of the following:

 

   March 31,
2012		   December 31,
2011		 
Term Note  $12,402,000   $12,344,000 
Seller Note   5,896,000    5,765,000 
Installment debt obligation   1,148,000    1,158,000 
Contingent obligation – due to seller   17,765,000    17,765,000 
Other liabilities   27,000    26,000 
Total   37,238,000    37,058,000 
Current portion   427,000    44,000 
Total long term liabilities  $36,811,000   $37,014,000 

 

F-7
 

 

Term Loan

 

On September 29, 2011, IM Brands, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a five year senior secured facility (the “Loan”) with Midmarket Capital Partners, LLC (“MidMarket”) and Noteholders in the aggregate principal amount of $13,500,000. The Loan is secured by all of the assets of IM Brands, LLC and the Company’s membership interests in IM Brands, LLC.  

 

The principal amount of the Loan is payable quarterly as follows:  0% until January 5, 2013, 2.5% on January 5, 2013 through October 5, 2013; 3.75% on January 5, 2014 through October 5, 2014; 6.25% on January 5, 2015 through October 5, 2015; 12.5% on January 5, 2016 through the maturity date, which is the date that is 5 years after the closing date.

 

Annual principal obligations are as follows:

 

   Year Ending December 31, 
2012  $- 
2013   1,350,000 
2014   2,025,000 
2015   3,375,000 
2016   6,750,000 
Total  $13,500,000 

  

The interest rate on the loan is a fixed rate of 8.5%, payable in cash.

 

Optional Prepayment.  IM Brands may prepay the Loan in whole or in part in increments of $500,000, provided that IM Brands pay the following premiums in connection with the prepayment:

 

Period  Applicable Premium 
First year following the Closing   3%
Second year following the Closing   2%
Third year following the Closing   1%
Fourth year following the Closing   0%

 

Mandatory Prepayments.   IM Brands is required to prepay the Loan under the following conditions:  (1) if certain indebtedness is incurred by the Company; (2) if IM Brands undertakes certain asset sales or sales of capital stock, with limited exceptions; or (3) if there is a payment of the benefits of a life insurance policy for Isaac Mizrahi held by the Company.

 

Excess Cash Flow Sweep.   In addition to the Mandatory Prepayments described above, if for any fiscal year ending on or subsequent to December 31, 2012, there is excess cash flow (as defined in the Loan agreements) for such year, then on the payment date following the end of such year, IM Brands is required to make a principal payment on the Loan equal to the lesser of (i) 50% of the excess cash flow or (ii) the positive result of the unencumbered cash and cash equivalents of the Company minus the greater of (x) the Excess Liquidity required to be maintained by IM Brands and (y) $3,000,000. For the period ended March 31, 2012, there was no Excess Cash Flow Sweep payment due.

 

Lender Warrants. At the closing of the Loan, the Company issued to the Noteholders seven year warrants (the “Lender Warrants”) to purchase 364,428 shares of the Common Stock, representing 5% of the Common Stock outstanding as of the Closing Date on a fully diluted basis.  The warrants have an exercise price of $0.01 and contain a cashless exercise provision.  The Company granted to the holders of the Lender Warrants piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Lender Warrants.  The carrying value of the Term Loan has been reduced by the market value of the warrants, equal to $3.33 per share.  The Company used the black scholes method to determine valuation.  The amount of the original loan discount is $1,214,000, resulting in an initial net loan balance of $12,286,000.  The Term Loan balance as of March 31, 2012 is $12,402,000.

 

Financial Covenants.  So long as the Loan remains unpaid or unsatisfied, IM Brands shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

1.Minimum Liquidity .  Permit Excess Liquidity to be less than the amount set forth below during each applicable period set forth below:

 

F-8
 

 

Fiscal Quarter  Excess Liquidity 
September 29, 2011 through December 31, 2011  $1,500,000 
January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012  $1,750,000 
April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012  $2,250,000 
July 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012  $2,750,000 
October 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013  $3,000,000 
July 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013  $3,250,000 
October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014  $3,500,000 
April 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014  $3,750,000 
July 1, 2014 and thereafter  $4,000,000 

 

2.Capital Expenditures .  Permit the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures to exceed $400,000 (whether or not financed) per year.

 

3.Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio .  Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates (or for the periods) set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates (or for the periods) below to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Trailing Four Fiscal Quarters Ending   

Minimum Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio

 
September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012   1.90 to 1.00 
March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013   1.60 to 1.00 
September 30, 2013, December 31, 2013, March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014   1.50 to 1.00 
December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015   1.30 to 1.00 
June 30, 2015 and thereafter   1.15 to 1.00 

 

4.Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio .  Permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates (or for the periods) set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates (or for  the periods) below to be greater than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Trailing Four Fiscal Quarters Ending   

Maximum

Consolidated

Leverage Ratio

 
September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012   3.50 to 1.00 
March 31, 2013   3.30 to 1.00 
June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013   3.00 to 1.00 
December 31, 2013   2.75 to 1.00 
March 31, 2014   2.25 to 1.00 
June 30, 2014 and thereafter   2.00 to 1.00 

 

5.Minimum Consolidated EBITDA .  Permit Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates below to be less than the amount set forth opposite such quarter in the table below; provided that for the fiscal quarters ended on December 31, 2011, March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, such periods shall be one fiscal quarter, two fiscal quarters and three fiscal quarters, respectively:

 

Fiscal Quarter  Consolidated EBITDA 
December 31, 2011  $250,000 
March 31, 2012  $1,250,000 
June 30, 2012  $2,500,000 
September 30, 2012  $4,000,000 
December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013  $4,250,000 
June 30, 2013  $4,500,000 
September 30, 2013  $4,750,000 
December 31, 2013 and thereafter  $5,000,000 

 

6.Dividend Restrictions .  Permit any cash dividends or any other equity distributions.

 

7.Restricted Cash Payments .  Permit any cash payments for the Seller Note or any contingent earn-out obligations.

 

As of March 31, 2012, the Company and IM Brands, LLC were in full compliance with all of the covenants under the Loan.

 

F-9
 

 

Seller Note

 

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, at the closing, the Company delivered to IM Ready a promissory note (the “Seller Note”) in the principal amount of $7,377,000.  The stated interest rate of the Seller Note is 0.25%.  Management has determined that this rate is below the Company’s expected borrowing rate, which is 9.25%.  Therefore, the Company has discounted the Seller Note by $1,740,000 using a 9.0%, imputed annual interest rate, resulting in a current value of $5,637,000.  In addition, the Company pre-paid $123,000 of interest on the Seller Note on the Closing Date.  The Seller Note balance at March 31, 2012 is $5,896,000.

 

The Seller Note initially matures three years from the Closing Date (the “Maturity Date”) subject to extension as described below (the date to which the maturity date of the Seller Note is extended is referred to as the “Subsequent Maturity Date”).  We have the right to pay the Seller Note at the Maturity Date in cash or, subject to the following conditions, in shares of Common Stock.  If we elect to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Seller Note on the Maturity Date by issuing shares of Common Stock, the number of shares issuable will be obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Seller Note then outstanding by the greater of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Maturity Date and (ii) $4.50 subject to certain adjustments; provided, however, that if the fair market value of the Common Stock is less than $4.50 as adjusted, IM Ready will have the option to extend the maturity of the Seller Note to the Subsequent Maturity Date. If the maturity date of the Seller Note is so extended, IM Ready will have the option to convert the Seller Note into Common Shares based on the greater of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Subsequent Maturity Date and (ii) $4.50, subject to certain adjustments. If the maturity date of the Seller Note is extended, we will also have the option to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Seller Note on the Subsequent Maturity Date in cash or by issuing the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Note outstanding on the Subsequent Maturity Date by the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Maturity Date.  In addition, at any time the Seller Note is outstanding, we have the right to convert the Note, in whole or in part, into the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing the principal amount to be converted by the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of the conversion, so long as the fair market value of our Common Stock is at least $4.50. 

 

Long Term Installment Obligations

 

Prior to the Acquisition Date, Earthbound had certain rights and provided certain services to IM Ready related to the Isaac Mizrahi Business. Effective as of the Acquisition Date, IM Ready and Earthbound entered into the Services Agreement pursuant to which Earthbound provided transitional services to IM Ready prior to the closing of the Merger and for which Earthbound received from IM Ready $600,000 in cash on the Closing Date and IM Ready agreed to pay to Earthbound an additional payment of $1,500,000 (the “Future Payment”), with such amount payable over the next five years. The Company assumed the obligations related to the Future Payment from IM Ready upon its acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business. The five-year obligation is non-interest bearing and the Company has discounted the amount of the installment obligation by a 9.25% imputed annual interest rate, resulting in an initial value of $1,132,000. The balance of the Installment Obligation at March 31, 2012 is $1,148,000.

 

Payments are due quarterly beginning March 2012.  Annual remaining payments are as follows:

 

   Year Ending December 31, 
2012  $113,000 
2013   325,000 
2014   325,000 
2015   350,000 
2016   350,000 
Total  $1,463,000 

 

Capitalized Lease Obligations

 

The Company assumed the obligations from the Seller under an equipment lease through February 2013.  The net discounted payments of the lease obligations are in excess of 90% of the fair market value (FMV) of the equipment.  The Company has capitalized the discounted lease payments by its imputed interest rate of 9.25%. The capital lease obligation balance at March 31, 2012 is $16,000.

 

5.         Stockholders’ Equity

 

2011 Equity Incentive Plan

 

The Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is designed and utilized to enable the Company to offer its employees, officers, directors, consultants and others whose past, present and/or potential contributions to the Company have been, are or will be important to the success of the Company, an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. A total of 2,500,000 shares of common stock are eligible for issuance under the Plan. The Plan provides for the grant of any or all of the following types of awards: stock options, restricted stock, deferred stock, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards. The Plan is administered by the Board, or, at the Board's discretion, a committee of the Board. On October 17, 2011, the Company issued to the board 250,000 options.   33.33% vest immediately, 33.34% vest on the first anniversary of the grant and the 33.34% vest on the second anniversary of the grant.  On October 21, 2011 the Company issued to employees (non-management) 17,125 stock options and 17,125 restricted stock grants. The employee stock options and restricted stock grants vest 50% on the first anniversary of the grant and 50% vest on the second anniversary of the grant.  

 

F-10
 

 

Management Warrants

 

As of the Acquisition Date, the Company issued to management warrants to purchase 463,750 shares of common stock. The warrants are exercisable in whole or in part, at an exercise price of $5.00 per share (“Exercise Price”).  The warrants consist of (1) immediately exercisable warrants to purchase 363,750 shares of common stock, beginning on the date of issuance and ending of the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date and (2) 100,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants subject to 2-year, even vesting from the Acquisition Date and ending of the tenth anniversary of the Acquisition Date.  Upon the expiration of the Warrant exercise period, the Warrants will expire and become void and worthless.

 

Licensee Warrants

 

As part of the terms and conditions of a certain license agreement effective October 1, 2011, we issued Warrants to purchase 75,000 shares of common stock to a licensee.  The Warrants are exercisable in whole or in part, at an exercise price of $5.50 per share (“Exercise Price”).  The Warrants may be exercised at any time upon the election of the holder, beginning on January 23, 2012, the date of issuance, and ending of the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance.   Upon the expiration of the Warrant exercise period, the Warrants will expire and become void and worthless.

 

Stock Options

 

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. The Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.

 

The fair value for these options and warrants for all years was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

Expected Volatility     35-42 %
Expected Dividend Yield     0 %
Expected Life (Term)   3 – 5.75 years  
Risk-Free Interest Rate     0.42% - 0.98 %

 

The options that the Company granted under its plans expire at various times, either five, seven or ten years from the date of grant, depending on the particular grant.

 

Options

 

       Weighted-Average 
   Options   Exercise Price 
         
Outstanding at December 31, 2011   267,701   $6.56 
Granted   -    - 
Canceled   -    - 
Exercised   -    - 
Expired/Forfeited   (500)   5.00 
Outstanding at March 31, 2012   267,201   $6.56 
Exercisable at March 31, 2012   83,076   $10.02 

 

Compensation expense related to stock option grants for the Current Quarter was $10,000.  There was no compensation expense prior to the Successor period. An additional amount of $45,000 is expected to be expensed evenly over a period of 19-months.

 

F-11
 

 

Warrants

 

       Weighted-Average 
   Warrants   Exercise Price 
         
Outstanding at December 31, 2011   1,219,543   $1.95 
Granted   75,000    5.50 
Canceled   -    - 
Exercised   -    - 
Expired/Forfeited   -    - 
Outstanding at March 31, 2012   1,294,543   $2.16 
Exercisable at March 31, 2012   1,194,543   $1.92 

 

The Company values warrants issued to non-employees at the commitment date at the fair market value of the instruments issued, a measure which is more readily available than the fair market value of services rendered, using the Black-Scholes model. The fair market value of the instruments issued is expensed over the vesting period with the exception of warrants issued to the Company’s licensee, whereby these warrants reduce license revenue recognized by the Company related to such licensee over the initial 5-year term of the licensee agreement. The stock based compensation recorded for the Current Quarter is $11,000. An additional amount of $73,000 is expected to be expensed evenly over a period of 19 months. In addition, licensing revenues were reduced by $1,000 relating to the license warrants for the Current Quarter. An additional amount of $21,000 is expected to off-set license revenues evenly over a period of 54-months. There was no compensation expense or reduction of licensed revenues prior to the Successor period.

 

Restricted Stock

 

Compensation cost for restricted stock is measured as the excess, if any, of the market price of the Company’s stock at the date the common stock is issued over the amount the employee must pay to acquire the stock (which is generally zero). The compensation cost, net of projected forfeitures, is recognized over the period between the issue date and the date any restrictions lapse, with compensation cost for grants with a graded vesting schedule recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in substance, multiple awards. The restrictions do not affect voting and dividend rights.

 

   Restricted 
   Shares 
      
Outstanding at December 31, 2011   17,125 
Granted   - 
Canceled   - 
Vested   - 
Expired/Forfeited   (500)
Outstanding at March 31, 2012   16,625 

 

Compensation expense related to restricted stock grants for the Current Quarter is $7,000. There was no compensation expense prior to the Successor period. An additional amount of $44,000 is expected to be expensed evenly over a period of 19-months.

 

Shares Available Under the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan

 

At March 31, 2012, there were 2,216,750 common shares available for issuance under the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Shares Reserved for Issuance

 

At March 31, 2012, there were 3,778,494 common shares reserved for issuance pursuant to warrants, stock options and availability for issuance under the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan. See Note 7 Subsequent Events.

 

Dividends

 

The Company has not paid any dividends to date.

 

F-12
 

 

6.Related Party Transactions

 

Todd Slater

 

On August 12, 2011, Old XCel entered into a one year agreement which was amended on October 4, 2011, with Todd Slater, who was appointed as a director of the Company commencing on October 17, 2011, for services related to the Company’s licensing strategy and introduction of potential licensees. During the term of the agreement or during the year following the expiration of the term of the agreement, if the Company enters into a license or distribution agreement with a licensee introduced by Mr. Slater, Mr. Slater will receive a commission equal to fifteen percent (15%) of all net royalties received by the Company during the first term of such agreement, payable within thirty days of receipt of the net royalties.  Mr. Slater earned $8,283 in fees for the Current Quarter.

 

Licensing Agent Agreement

 

On August 2, 2011, Old XCel entered into a licensing agent agreement with Adam Dweck (“AD”) who is an Executive Vice President of Earthbound pursuant to which AD is entitled to a five percent (5%) commission on any royalties we receive under any new license agreements that he procures for us during the initial term of such license agreements. We are obligated to grant to AD 5-year warrants to purchase 12,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share, subject to the AD generating $0.5 million of accumulated royalties and an additional 5-year warrants to purchase 12,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share, subject to the AD generating $1.0 million of accumulated royalties. Additionally, AD shall be entitled to receive 5-year warrants to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock priced at the fair market value at the time of issuance, subject to AD generating $2.0 million of accumulated royalties. AD is the son of Jack Dweck, who is a 10% shareholder of the Company and has been granted observer rights related to the Company’s meetings of its board of directors. AD earned $2,555 in fees for the Current Quarter. Through March 31, 2012, AD has not earned any warrants.

 

Jones Texas, LLC

 

Ed Jones, a principal shareholder and chief executive officer of Jones Texas, LLC was appointed to the Company’s board of directors following the Merger, which appointment became effective on October 17, 2011. Jones Texas, LLC procured a license for the Company which the Company agreed to remit 15% of the license revenues for the initial term of the license. Jones Texas, LLC earned $750 in fees for the Current Quarter.

 

IM Ready-Made, LLC

 

The Company and IM Ready-Made, LLC had transactions between each other relating to the transitions of the Isaac Mizrahi Business from IM ready to the Company. In addition, IM Ready received payments in the 4th quarter 2011 and 1st quarter 2012 that related to periods after the Predecessor period. As of March 31, 2012 IM Ready owes the Company approximately $157,000 which is recorded in the ‘other current assets’ in the condensed balance sheet. IM Ready has agreed to reimburse the Company in full by October 1, 2012, including paying interest to the Company beginning April 1, 2012 at a rate equal to the Seller Note interest rate of 0.26%.

 

7.Subsequent Events

 

On April 17, 2012, the Compensation Committee of Xcel Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), granted to the following executive officers and directors (the “Executive Grantees”) of the Company the number of shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company (the “Restricted Stock”) set forth opposite each person’s name:

 

Name  Number of Shares of Restricted Stock 
Robert W. D’Loren   700,000 
James F. Haran   150,000 
Seth Burroughs   100,000 
Marisa Gardini   75,000 
Joseph Falco   75,000 

 

The vesting date of the Restricted Stock granted to Mr. D’Loren, Mr. Haran, Mr. Burroughs and Ms. Gardini is November 15, 2012, provided, however, that each such Executive Grantee may extend the vesting date by six-month increments in his or her sole discretion. The vesting date of the Restricted Stock granted to Mr. Falco is May 15, 2014, provided, however, that Mr. Falco may extend the vesting date by six-month increments in his sole discretion.

 

Also, on April 17, 2012, the Compensation Committee granted 50,000 shares of Restricted Stock and options to purchase an aggregate of 75,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Options”) to four non-executive employees (the “Non-Executive Grantees”) of the Company. The exercise price per share of the Options is $3.00 per share, and 50% of the Options will vest on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date.

 

F-13
 

 

In addition, on May 1, 2012 Management granted options to purchase an aggregate of 31,500 shares of Common Stock (the “Employee Options”) to twenty-two non-executive employees (the “Employee Grantees”) of the Company. The exercise price per share of the Options is $3.00 per share and 50% of the Options will vest on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date.

 

The grants by the Company of Restricted Stock, Options and Employee Options were made pursuant to the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and as such, no consideration was paid therefor by either, the Executive Grantees, the Non-Executive Grantees or Employee Grantees. Each grant of Restricted Stock, Options and Employee Options was made pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award Agreement or an Option Agreement, respectively, in each case entered into by and between the Company and the respective grantee. A summary of the material terms of the Plan is incorporated here by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission on March 30, 2012.

 

F-14
 

  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Successor”) as of December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, statement of stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 (referred to as the Successor period). We have also audited the balance sheet of the Isaac Mizrahi Business (a division of IM Read-Made, LLC) (the “Predecessor”) as of December 31, 2010, and the related statements of operations, changes in parent’s equity in unit, and cash flows for the periods January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010 (referred to as the Predecessor periods). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Successor and Predecessor management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Successor (Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries) and the Predecessor (Isaac Mizrahi Business) for the periods set forth in the first paragraph, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As described in Note 2, the financial statements covered by the Predecessor period have been prepared using the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses related to the historical operations of Isaac Mizrahi Business on a carve-out basis and are not necessarily indicative of the costs and expenses that would have resulted if the Isaac Mizrahi Business had been operated as a separate entity. Certain expenses represent allocations and estimates of costs from IM Ready-Made, LLC. Allocations and estimates are based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances.

 

/s/ Rothstein Kass

 

Roseland, New Jersey

March 23, 2012

  

F-15
 

  

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   Successor   Predecessor 
   December 31, 2011   December 31, 2010 
Assets          
Current Assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $2,718,000   $46,000 
Restricted cash   175,000    - 
Accounts receivable   2,191,000    1,768,000 
Prepaid expenses   401,000    1,422,000 
Other current assets   85,000    - 
Total current  assets   5,570,000    3,236,000 
Property and equipment:          
Leasehold improvements, furniture & equipment   1,399,000    2,743,000 
Less: accumulated  depreciation   76,000    1,302,000 
Total property and equipment   1,323,000    1,441,000 
Other Assets:          
Trademarks, goodwill and other intangibles, net   57,461,000    - 
Deferred finance costs, net   591,000    - 
Deposits   9,000    - 
Total other assets   58,061,000    - 
Total Assets  $64,954,000   $4,677,000 
           
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity          
Current Liabilities          
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  $878,000   $1,137,000 
Advance payable   -    1,500,000 
Deferred royalty payments, net of long term portion   503,000    3,049,000 
Other current liabilities   66,000    - 
Current portion of  long term debt   44,000    - 
Total current liabilities   1,491,000    5,686,000 
Long Term Liabilities:          
Deferred royalty payments, less current portion   -    6,346,000 
Term loan   12,344,000    - 
Seller note   5,765,000    - 
Installment debt obligation   1,114,000    - 
Contingent  obligations - due to seller   17,765,000    - 
Deferred tax liability   9,831,000    - 
Other long term liabilities, less current portion   26,000    - 
Total long term liabilities   46,845,000    6,346,000 
Total Liabilities   48,336,000    12,032,000 
           
Stockholders' Equity:          
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding        - 
Common stock, $.001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, 5,810,444 issued & outstanding   6,000    - 
Paid in capital   17,904,000    - 
Accumulated deficit   (1,292,000)   - 
Parent's equity in unit   -    (7,355,000)
Total stockholders' equity   16,618,000    (7,355,000)
           
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $64,954,000   $4,677,000 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 

F-16
 

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

   Successor   Predecessor 
   Period From September
29, 2011 through
December 31, 2011		   Period From January 1,
2011 through September
28, 2011		   Year Ended December
31, 2010		 
             
Licensing  & design revenue  $2,898,000   $8,729,000   $9,796,000 
Direct licensing costs   252,000    -    - 
Net licensing  & design revenue   2,646,000    8,729,000    9,796,000 
                
Expenses               
Operating & marketing costs   1,010,000    2,786,000    3,143,000 
General and administrative expenses   910,000    1,384,000    1,523,000 
Stock based compensation   530,000    -    - 
Depreciation & amortization   211,000    211,000    283,000 
Acquisition and due diligence costs   498,000    -    - 
Total expenses   3,159,000    4,381,000    4,949,000 
                
Operating income (loss)   (513,000)   4,348,000    4,847,000 
                
Other Income (expenses)               
Interest expenses - debt   (296,000)   -    - 
Interest income   3,000    -    2,000 
Other interest and finance charges   (253,000)   -    - 
Total other income (expenses)   (546,000)   -    2,000 
                
Income (loss) before income tax (benefit) expense   (1,059,000)   4,348,000    4,849,000 
                
Income tax (benefit) expense   (190,000)   175,000    222,000 
                
Net income  (loss)  $(869,000)  $4,173,000   $4,627,000 
                
Earnings per share:               
Basic and diluted  $(0.15)          
                
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:               
Basic and diluted   5,770,266           

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 

F-17
 

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Statement of Changes in Parent's Equity in Unit and Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

 

Predecessor    
Parent's Equity in Unit, January 1, 2010  $(2,985,000)
      
Net Income   4,627,000 
Less: Member distributions   (8,997,000)
      
Parent's Equity in Unit, December 31, 2010   (7,355,000)
      
Net Income   4,173,000 
Less: Member distributions   (2,147,000)
      
Parent's Equity in Unit, September 28, 2011  $(5,329,000)

 

                 
Successor  Common Stock   Paid - in   Accumulated     
   Share   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Total 
                     
Balances, September 29, 2011   944,688   $1,000   $-   $(423,000)  $(422,000)
                          
Shares of common stock and 1,064 warrants issued on September 29, 2011 in connection with recapitalization transaction   186,811    -    (125,000)        (125,000)
                          
Shares issued to former Chairman  in connection with recapitalization transaction   47,132    -    158,000         158,000 
                          
Shares of common stock and 430,500 warrants issued in a private placement of September 29, 2011   861,000    1,000    4,304,000         4,305,000 
                          
Shares of common stock issued on September 29, 2011 in connection with purchase of IM Licensing Business   2,759,000    3,000    9,212,000         9,215,000 
                          
Shares of common stock issued on September 29, 2011 for acquisition of Earthbound contract   944,688    1,000    3,154,000         3,155,000 
                          
Warrants issued in connection with Term Loan             1,214,000         1,214,000 
                          
Shares issued to employees in connection with restricted stock grants   17,125    -    57,000         57,000 
                          
Compensation expense in connection with stock options and warrants to directors and management             367,000         367,000 
                          
Direct costs relating to equity placement, including 9,800 warrants issued to placement agent             (438,000)        (438,000)
                          
Shares issued on exercise of warrants on December 20, 2011   50,000    -    1,000         1,000 
                          
Net loss for the period ended December 31, 2011                  (869,000)   (869,000)
                          
Balances, December 31, 2011   5,810,444   $6,000   $17,904,000   $(1,292,000)  $16,618,000 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-18
 

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

   Successor   Predecessor 
   Period From September
29, 2011 through
December 31, 2011		   Period From January 1,
2011 through
September 28, 2011		   Year Ended
December 31, 2010		 
Cash flows from operating activities               
Net income (loss)  $(869,000)  $4,173,000   $4,627,000 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:               
Depreciation and amortization expense   211,000    211,000    283,000 
Amortization of deferred finance costs   31,000    -    - 
Stock-based compensation   530,000    -    - 
Amortization of Seller note discount   128,000    -    - 
Amortization of other imputed interest   26,000    -    - 
Amortization of senior note discount   58,000    -    - 
Deferred income tax provision   (190,000)   -    - 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:               
Accounts receivable   (2,191,000)   (183,000)   2,872,000 
Prepaid expenses   323,000    220,000    (1,042,000)
Other assets   (94,000)   (32,000)   - 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   (423,000)   213,000    523,000 
Due to affiliates   (164,000)   -    - 
Advance payable   -    -    1,500,000 
Royalty advances   516,000    (2,270,000)   (17,000)
Other liabilities   49,000    -    - 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   (2,059,000)   2,332,000    8,746,000 
                
Cash flows from investing activities               
Acquisition of Isaac  Mizrahi Trademarks & related intangible property and tangible property and equipment   (10,174,000)   -    - 
Purchase of property and equipment   (142,000)   -    (76,000)
Restricted cash for security deposit   (175,000)   -    - 
Payment of assumed obligation of Seller   (1,500,000)   -    - 
Net cash used in investing activities   (11,991,000)   -    (76,000)
                
Cash flows from financing activities               
                
Proceeds from term loan   13,500,000    -    - 
Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants   4,305,000    -    - 
Proceeds from exercise of warrants   1,000    -    - 
Deferred finance costs   (472,000)   -    - 
Member distributions   -    (2,147,000)   (8,997,000)
Payment of expenses related to equity & recapitalization   (562,000)   -    - 
Repayment of lease obligation   (4,000)   -    - 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   16,768,000    (2,147,000)   (8,997,000)
                
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   2,718,000    185,000    (327,000)
                
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   -    46,000    373,000 
                
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  $2,718,000   $231,000   $46,000 
                
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information               
Value of common stock issued to Sellers as  partial consideration in the acquisition of Isaac Mizrahi Business  $9,215,000           
Value of common stock issued to Earthbound as  partial consideration in the acquisition of Isaac Mizrahi Business  $3,155,000           
Issuance of Seller Notes  as partial consideration in the acquisition of Isaac Mizrahi Business (net of debt discount - see Note 5)  $5,637,000           
Value of Warrants to purchase 364,428 of common stock for $.01 per share issued to Noteholders  $1,214,000           
Contingent equity pay-out relating to acquisition of Isaac Mizrahi Business  $15,000,000           
Contingent  obligations relating to acquisition of Isaac Mizrahi Business  $2,765,000           
Assumed Other Long Term liabilities as partial consideration of the Isaac Mizrahi  Business  $1,132,000           
Deferred tax liability relating to the net tax effect of the excess book value over tax basis of acquired intangible asset  $9,615,000           
Deferred tax liability relating to the net tax effect of the Seller Note discount amount  $635,000           
Value of equipment and software received from Earthbound  $71,000           
Assumed capitalized lease obligation  $24,000           
                
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information,               
Cash paid during the period for income taxes  $-           
Cash paid during the period for interest  $129,000   $175,000   $222,000 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-19
 

 

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2011

 

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS, BACKGROUND, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND REVERSE ACQUISITION

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. ("XCel", “we”, “our” or the "Company") engages in the design, licensing, and marketing of the Isaac Mizrahi brand with a focus on a variety of product categories featuring the IM Trademarks.

 

On September 29, 2011, NetFabric Holdings, Inc. (NetFabrics), a public “Shell Company”, entered into an Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which a subsidiary of NetFabrics was merged with and into XCel, with XCel surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). This resulted in the owners of XCel (the "accounting acquirer") having actual or effective operating control of the Company after the transaction, with the shareholders of NetFabrics (the "legal acquirer") continuing only as passive investors. No goodwill was recognized since Net Fabrics was a Shell Company.

 

Also on September 29, 2011, the Company acquired the Isaac Mizrahi Business (the “Transaction”) (see Note 3). The Transaction was accounted for as a business combination, whereby the purchase price paid to effect the Transaction was allocated to record acquired assets and assumed liabilities at their fair value as of the acquisition date.

 

As XCel had limited operations prior to the Transaction, the Isaac Mizrahi Business was deemed to be the Predecessor of the Company for financial statement presentation purposes. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements designate periods preceding the Transaction as relating to the Predecessor and all references to periods after September 29, 2011 (Transaction date) shall be referred to as Successor.

 

2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Xcel Brands, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and in accordance with the SEC’s accounting rules under Regulation S-X. All material inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Presentation of Predecessor Financial Statements

 

The financial statements covered by the Predecessor have been prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Isaac Mizrahi Business ("Licensing Business") is not a separate legal entity, thus the financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred if the Licensing Business had been operated as a separate legal entity. IM Ready’s net investment in the Licensing Business (“Parent’s Equity in Unit”) is shown in lieu of stockholders’ equity in the financial statements.

 

All of the allocations and estimates in the accompanying Predecessor financial statements are based on assumptions that IM Ready and Xcel management (collectively “management”) believe are reasonable, and reasonably approximate the historical costs that the Licensing Business would have incurred as a separate entity. However, these allocations and estimates are not necessarily indicative of the costs and expenses that would have resulted if the Licensing Business had been operated as a separate entity. The allocation of expenses were made to comply with the guidance provided by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 1B1, “Allocation of Expenses and Related Disclosure in Financial Statements of Subsidiaries, Divisions or Lesser Business Components of another Entity”.

 

F-20
 

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could be affected by those estimates.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amounts of the Company’s assets and liabilities approximate their fair value presented in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, due to their short maturities.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Furniture and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, generally three (3) to seven (7) years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the terms of the leases. Betterments and improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

 

Trademarks, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. The Company accounts for goodwill under the guidance of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350 – “Intangibles: Goodwill and Other”. Goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead tested for impairment, at least annually, in accordance with this guidance. This guidance also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment.

 

In accordance with the guidance of ASC Topic 350, long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and purchased intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

 

Deferred Finance Costs

 

Costs incurred in connection with debt offerings are deferred and amortized as interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method. The amortization expense is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Contingent Obligations

 

Management will analyze and quantify the expected earn-out payments over the applicable pay-out period.  Management will assess no less frequently than each reporting period the status of contingent obligations. Any change in the expected obligation will result in an expense or income recognized in the period in which it is determined fair market value of the carrying value has changed.

 

F-21
 

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense is the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted rates in effect during the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

 

ASC Topic 740 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. Tax positions shall initially be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions shall initially and subsequently be measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a probability of fifty percent (50%) or greater of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority, assuming full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts.

 

Revenue recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of a sale arrangement exists, delivery has occurred and services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonable assured. The Company has two types of revenues: (i) royalties based on the sale of products by its licensees or other contractual partners, and (ii) design service fees based on services provided. Revenues from royalties are recognized when earned, which includes guaranteed minimum royalties, if any, and additional revenues based on a percentage of defined sales by our licensees or other contractual partners for each period. Royalties exceeding the guaranteed minimum amounts are recognized as income during the period that corresponds to the licensee’s or partner’s sales.

 

Design service fees are recorded and recognized in accordance with the terms and conditions of each design fee contract, including the Company meeting its obligations and providing the relevant services under each contract.  Generally, we record on a straight line basis each base fee as stated in each design fee service agreement for the covered period and, if applicable, we recognize additional payments received that is related to a future period as deferred revenue, until service is provided or revenue is earned.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments which potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, and accounts receivable. We limit our credit risk with respect to cash by maintaining cash balances with quality financial institutions. At December 31, 2011, our cash and cash equivalents exceeded FDIC limits. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are minimal due to the limited amount of outstanding receivables and due to the nature of our royalty revenues. Generally, we do not require collateral or other security to support accounts receivables.

 

Significant Contracts

 

QVC Agreement

 

In connection with the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the Company acquired a direct-to-retail license agreement with QVC that was entered into in January 2009 and amended and restated on September 29, 2011 in connection with the acquisition (as amended, the “QVC Agreement”). Pursuant to the QVC Agreement, the Company designs, and QVC sources and sells, various products under the “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” brand.  The IsaacMizrahiLIVE licensing program launched on QVC in 2010, and includes the sale of products across various categories including apparel, footwear, handbags, accessories, kitchen, soft home, and food through QVC’s television media and related Internet sites primarily in the United States. The initial term of the QVC Agreement continues through September 30, 2015, and renews automatically for successive one-year periods unless terminated by either party. Under the QVC Agreement, QVC has agreed to pay royalties based primarily on a percentage of QVC's net sales of Isaac Mizrahi branded merchandise. Royalty revenues from QVC totaled approximately $1,936,000 for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 (the Successor period), representing 67% of the Company’s total revenues. Royalty revenues from QVC totaled approximately $5,436,000 and $4,492,000 for the period from January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011, and the year ending December 31, 2010, respectively (the Predecessor periods) , which represents 62% and 46% of total revenues for the Isaac Mizrahi Business, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had a receivable from QVC in the amount of $1,900,000, representing 87% of the Company’s receivables. As of September 28, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Predecessor had a receivable from QVC in the amount of $1,650,000 and $1,650,000 representing 85% and 93% of the Predecessor’s receivables, respectively.

 

F-22
 

 

LCNY Agreement

 

In connection with the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the Company assumed and entered into an amended and restated agreement (the “LCNY Agreement”) with Liz Claiborne, Inc. (“LC”) dated September 29, 2011.  Pursuant to the LCNY Agreement, the Company provides design services to LC for the “Liz Claiborne New York” brand, which is sold exclusively through QVC. The initial term of the LCNY Agreement continues through July 31, 2013. Under the LC Agreement, LC has agreed to pay the Company royalties based primarily on a percentage of royalties LC receives from QVC under a separate license agreement between LC and QVC. Revenues under the LCNY Agreement totaled approximately $383,000 for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011, representing 13% of the Company’s total revenues. Revenues from the LCNY Agreement (and a previous design agreement with LC) totaled approximately $2,455,000 and $2,723,000 for the periods from January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011, and the year ending December 31, 2010, respectively, representing 28% and 28% of total revenues for the Isaac Mizrahi Business, respectively. The revenues during the Predecessor period includes amortized revenue of $1,748,000 and $2,347,000 for the periods from January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively that relates to a one-time fee of $9,000,000 that the Predecessor received from LC in 2009, which was recorded as a deferred royalty payment (other liabilities) on the balance sheet in the financial statements of the Predecessor. This amount was being amortized by the Predecessor on a straight line basis over the life of the LCNY Agreement. Following its acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the Company is not receiving the benefits of the one-time payment and has not recorded any deferred royalty payment as a result of the one-time payment.

 

LC/QVC Design fees

 

In connection with the Transactions, the Company also assumed an agreement with QVC whereby the Company will receive an annual design fee from QVC for the term of the LCNY Agreement (the “Design Agreement”), which fee is intended to cover certain design expenses of the Company related to the Liz Claiborne New York brand.  Revenues from the Design Agreement totaled approximately $282,000 for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011, or 10% of the Company’s total revenues. Revenues from the Design Agreement totaled approximately $818,000 and $1,100,000 for the periods from January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively, representing 9% and 11% of total revenues for the Isaac Mizrahi Business, respectively.

 

Stock Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718 by recognizing the fair value of stock-based compensation in the consolidated statement of operations.  The fair value of the Company’s stock option awards are estimated using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions and elections including expected stock price volatility and the estimated life of each award. In addition, the calculation of compensation costs requires that the Company estimate the number of awards that will be forfeited during the vesting period. The fair value of stock-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the awards.  For stock-based awards that vest based on performance conditions (e.g. achievement of certain milestones), expense is recognized when it is probable that the condition will be met.

 

Restricted Stock

 

Compensation cost for restricted stock is measured using the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date the common stock is granted. The compensation cost is recognized over the period between the issue date and the date any restrictions lapse.

 

F-23
 

 

Earnings per Share

 

Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (or loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect, in periods in which they have a dilutive effect, the effect of common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants. The difference between basic and diluted weighted-average common shares results from the assumption that all dilutive stock options, warrants and restricted stock outstanding were exercised into common stock.

 

As of December 31, 2011, 267,701 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 473,550 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants were excluded from the calculation of earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

3. Acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business

 

On May 19, 2011, Xcel Brands, Inc. entered into an asset purchase agreement, as amended (the “Purchase Agreement”), with IM Ready-Made, LLC (“IM Ready”), Isaac Mizrahi and Marisa Gardini, pursuant to which the Buyers acquired certain assets of IM Ready, including (i) the “Isaac Mizrahi” brands (including the trademarks and brands “Isaac Mizrahi New York”, “Isaac Mizrahi”, “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” and “M”) (collectively, the “IM Trademarks”), (ii) the license agreements between IM Ready and certain third parties related to the IM Trademarks including the QVC Agreement (together with the IM Trademarks, the “Isaac Mizrahi Business”), (iii) design agreements with Liz Claiborne (the LCNY Agreement) and QVC (the Design Agreement) to design the “Liz Claiborne New York” brand for sale exclusively at QVC, (iv) computers, design software, and assumption of the operating lease and the related leasehold improvements related to the licensing and design of the IM Trademarks and the design of the Liz Claiborne New York brand and (v) proprietary designs and design process, trade dress, trade names, personal names, images and likenesses, product configuration, corporate names, logos, insignias and slogans and Internet domain names, Internet websites, and URL’s Internet and phone applications and systems.  The parties consummated the asset purchase contemplated by the Purchase Agreement on September 29, 2011.

 

Pursuant to an agreement between IM Ready and Earthbound, LLC (“Earthbound”), a design and licensing company (the “Earthbound Agreement”), Earthbound had certain rights related to the IM Trademarks and provided certain design services for IM Ready.  In connection with the consummation of the acquisition by the Company of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, XCel and Earthbound entered into a contribution agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) pursuant to which, on the Closing Date, Earthbound contributed to the Company (i) the Earthbound Agreement and (ii) certain assets relating to the operation of the Isaac Mizrahi Business in exchange for 944,688 shares of Common Stock and also purchased one (1) Unit in the Offering (as defined in Note 6 below).  The closing of the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and Earthbound Assets occurred in conjunction with the consummation of the Merger, after which the Company terminated the Earthbound Agreement. Earthbound contributed to the Company, the Earthbound Agreement and certain assets in exchange for 944,688 shares of the Company’s Common Stock valued at $3,155,000 based on the Effective Share Purchase Price.

 

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, at the closing, the Buyers delivered (i) to IM Ready (a) $9,674,000 in cash, (b) a promissory note (the “Seller Note”) in the principal amount of $7,377,000 and (c) 2,759,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the “IM Ready Stock Consideration”), and (ii) to an escrow agent $500,000 that the escrow agent agreed pay to IM Ready upon resolution of certain obligations of IM Ready and Mizrahi (together, the “Closing Consideration”).  The Company also pre-paid $123,000 of interest on the Note on the Closing Date and agreed to include up to 1,200,000 of the shares of the IM Ready Stock Consideration in the registration statement which the Company has agreed to file to register for resale of the Shares and Warrant Shares of the Investors (the “Registration Statement”).  The Company does not have a penalty provision relating to the registration of these shares.

 

F-24
 

 

 

XCel was deemed to be the accounting acquirer of the Isaac Mizrahi Business based on various qualitative and quantitative factors including:

 

a.Management of XCel accounts for substantially all of the management of the combined entities. The CEO, CFO, COO and Secretary all continue in the combined entity.
b.Seven members compose the board of directors. All members were selected by XCel, including one director who was a principal of IM Ready and director who was a principal of Earthbound.
c.IM Ready granted a proxy to the Company’s board of directors to vote its stock in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors and Robert D’Loren, who was Chairman of the board of directors of XCel and has been designated by the Company’s board of directors to exercise such proxy.
d.XCel management as a group makes up the largest minority voting group. There is no majority stockholder.

 

The Company accounts for purchase of the Isaac Mizrahi Business using the acquisition method of accounting.  In accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, the total purchase consideration is allocated to certain net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values as of September 29, 2011.

 

The purchase price for the acquisition is being allocated as follows:

 

Components of purchase price:

 

Cash paid at closing  $9,674,000 
Cash deposited with escrow agent   500,000 
3,703,688 shares of common stock of the Company valued at $3.34 per share   12,370,000 
Seller Note   7,377,000 
Seller Note discount (See Note 5, Debt)   (1,740,000)
Contingent obligations – Due to Seller   17,766,000 
Long term installment obligation (Earthbound) (See Note 5, Debt)   1,132,000 
Seller Licensee obligation assumed and paid at closing   1,500,000 
Total purchase price  $48,579,000 

 

Preliminary allocation of purchase price:

 

Trademark and other related intangible assets   $ 57,596,000  
Property, furniture and equipment     1,233,000  
Deferred tax liability     (10,250,000 )
Total assets acquired   $ 48,579,000  

 

Intangible assets were valued using an independent valuation firm. The trademarks we acquired are considered to have an indefinite life and are not subject to amortization. Value allocated to contracts is amortized on a straight line basis over the estimated remaining life of the contracts.

 

F-25
 

 

In addition to the Closing Consideration and the escrowed funds, IM Ready will be eligible to earn additional shares of Common Stock with a value of up to $7,500,000 (the “Earn-Out Value”) each year for four consecutive years after the Closing Date, with the number of shares to be issued based upon the greater of (i) $4.50 and (ii) average stock price for the last twenty days in such period and with such earn-out payment contingent upon the Isaac Mizrahi Business achieving the “Net Royalty Income” targets set forth below during those years.  The Earn-Out Value is payable solely in stock.  In accordance with ASC Topic 480 "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity", the earn-out obligation is treated as a liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet because of the variable number of shares payable under the agreement. Under the Purchase Agreement, “Net Royalty Income” means booked revenue for the Isaac Mizrahi Business, less the sum of advertising royalties, commissions paid to third parties, payments under royalty sharing or participation agreements, and international withholding (solely to the extent the Buyers are unable to claim a federal tax credit with respect to such international withholding) and other transfer taxes, in each case to the extent related to such booked revenue, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”); provided, however, that, (i) Net Royalty Income shall not include any deferred revenues recognized during the period for which Net Royalty Income is being calculated for which the Buyers have not received the related payment, and (ii) in the event of the termination of a license agreement with respect to the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the calculation of Net Royalty Income shall not include any revenue accelerated as a result of termination for which termination the Buyers have not received the related payment. The earn-out value was valued at $15,000,000 at the acquisition date of the Isaac Mizrahi Business (the “Earn-Out Obligation”). This amount was based on projected royalties during the Royalty Target Periods and the aggregate amount of earn-out consideration due for each Royalty Target Period. Any change in the expected obligation will result in an expense or income in the period in which it is determined fair market value of the carrying value has changed.  The Royalty Targets and percentage of the potential earn-out value are as follows:

 

ROYALTY TARGET PERIODS  ROYALTY
TARGET		   EARN-OUT
  VALUE		 
         
First Royalty Target Period  $16,000,000   $7,500,000 
Second Royalty Target Period  $20,000,000   $7,500,000 
Third Royalty Target Period  $22,000,000   $7,500,000 
Fourth Royalty Target Period  $24,000,000   $7,500,000 

 

IM Ready will receive a percentage of the Earn-Out Value based upon the percentage of the actual net royalty income of the Isaac Mizrahi Business to the royalty target as set forth below.

 

APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE		  % OF EARN-OUT
VALUE EARNED		 
Less than 76%   0%
76% up to 80%   40%
80% up to 90%   70%
90% up to 95%   80%
95% up to 100%   90%
100% or greater   100%

 

The QVC Earn-Out payment requires the Company to pay IM Ready $2,765,000, payable in cash or Common Stock, at the Company’s option, contingent upon the Isaac Mizrahi Business receiving aggregate net royalty income of at least $2,500,000 from QVC, Inc. in the twelve month period ending on the four year anniversary of the Closing Date with such stock based upon the greater of (x) $4.50 and (y) fair market value of the common stock at the time of such issuance (the “QVC Earn-out’).  The 4th anniversary from the date of the closing is September 29, 2015.   The QVC Agreement current term runs through September 30, 2015.  Management has determined that is probable that the $2.5 million in net royalty income from QVC will be met. In accordance with ASC Topic 480 "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity", the earn-out obligation is treated as a liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet because of the variable number of shares payable under the agreement. Management will assess no less frequent than each reporting period the status of this contingent obligation.  Any change in the expected obligation will result in an expense or income in the period in which it is determined fair market value has changed.  

 

As of December 31, 2011 the QVC Earn-out is $2,765,000 and the Earn-Out Value is $15,000,000, combining to equal $17,765,000 and represents the total contingent obligation to IM Ready. Based on the variables relating to each contingent obligation, the Company estimates the range in the combined contingent obligation from $12,000,000 to $21,000,000.

 

F-26
 

  

Pursuant to a lock-up agreement entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement (“Lock-up Agreement”), IM Ready agreed that during the six (6) months from the Closing Date, in the case of the IM Ready Stock Consideration, or during the twelve (12) months from the date any additional shares are issued to IM Ready pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Lock-up Shares”), IM Ready may not offer, sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant an option for sale or otherwise dispose of, or transfer or grant any rights with respect to, any of the Lockup Shares, except with respect to up to 1,200,000 of the IM Ready Stock Consideration which the Company agreed to include in the Registration Statement.  With respect to any shares received by IM Ready as consideration under the Purchase Agreement, other than as IM Ready Stock Consideration, upon the expiration of the initial 12-month period, the lock-up restrictions on transfer shall lapse with respect to 25% of the Lockup Shares. Additionally, on the first day of each of the next three quarters, the restrictions on transfer shall lapse with respect to an additional 25% of the Lockup Shares.

 

The following unaudited pro-forma information presents a summary of the Company’s consolidated results of operations as if the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and the related financing had occurred on January 1, 2010.  These pro-forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have occurred on January 1, 2010, or which may result in the future. 

 

   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
   Year Ended
December 31, 2011		   Year Ended
December 31, 2010		 
Total Revenues  $11,375,000   $9,796,000 
           
Net Income (Loss)  $1,172,000   $1,418,000 
           
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding          
Basic   5,750,259    5,743,319 
Diluted   6,542,690    6,539,312 
Basic earnings per common share  $0.20   $0.25 
Diluted earnings per common share  $0.18   $0.22 

 

4. Trademarks, Goodwill and Other Intangibles

 

Trademarks, goodwill and other intangibles, net consist of the following:

 

        (Successor)     (Predecessor)  
        December 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
    Estimated   Gross           Gross        
    Lives in   Carrying     Accumulated     Carrying     Accumulated  
    Years   Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amortization  
                             
Indefinite life trademarks and copyrights   Indefinite   $ 44,500,000     $ -     $ -     $ -  
Goodwill   Indefinite     11,096,000       -       -       -  
Licensing agreements   4     2,000,000       135,000       -       -  
        $ 57,596,000     $ 135,000     $     $  

 

The following table presents amortization expense for Licensing Agreements over the remaining useful life:

 

Year Ending  Carrying
Value		   Amortization
Expense		 
December 31, 2011  $1,865,000   $135,000 
December 31, 2012   1,336,000    529,000 
December 31, 2013   807,000    529,000 
December 31, 2014   278,000    529,000 
December 31, 2015   -    278,000 

 

F-27
 

 

On September 29, 2011, the Company completed a transaction in which it acquired substantially all of the licensing rights to the Isaac Mizrahi brands and trademarks from IM Ready-Made, LLC.  See Note 3, “Acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business” for further details of this transaction.

 

Amortization expense for intangible assets for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 is $135,000. Amortization expense for the Predecessor Periods is nil. The trademarks of Isaac Mizrahi have been determined to have an indefinite useful life and accordingly, consistent with ASC Topic 350, no amortization has been recorded in the Company's consolidated statement of operations.

 

5.  Debt

 

The Company’s net carrying amount of debt is comprised of the following:

 

   Successor   Predecessor 
   December 31,
2011		   December 31,
2010		 
Term Note  $12,344,000   $- 
Seller Note   5,765,000    - 
Installment debt obligation   1,158,000    - 
Contingent obligation – due to seller   17,765,000    - 
Other long term liabilities, less current portion   26,000    - 
Total   37,058,000    - 
Current portion   44,000    - 
Total long term liabilities  $37,014,000   $- 

 

Term Loan

 

On September 29, 2011, IM Brands, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a five year senior secured facility (the “Loan”) with Midmarket Capital Partners, LLC (“MidMarket”) and Noteholders in the aggregate principal amount of $13,500,000. The Loan is secured by all of the assets of IM Brands, LLC and the Company’s membership interests in IM Brands, LLC.  The Company paid a closing fee of $405,000 to MidMarket, which was equal to three percent (3%) of the committed amount.

 

The principal amount of the Loan is payable quarterly as follows:  0% until January 5, 2013, 2.5% on January 5, 2013 through October 5, 2013; 3.75% on January 5, 2014 through October 5, 2014; 6.25% on January 5, 2015 through October 5, 2015; 12.5% on January 5, 2016 through the maturity date, which is the date that is 5 years after the closing date.

 

Annual principal obligations are as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31   ,  
2012   $ -  
2013     1,350,000  
2014     2,025,000  
2015     3,375,000  
2016     6,750,000  
Total   $ 13,500,000  

   

F-28
 

 

The interest rate on the loan is a fixed rate of 8.5%, payable in cash.

 

Optional Prepayment.  IM Brands may prepay the Loan in whole or in part in increments of $500,000, provided that IM Brands pay the following premiums in connection with the prepayment:

 

Period   Applicable Premium  
First year following the Closing     3 %
Second year following the Closing     2 %
Third year following the Closing     1 %
Fourth year following the Closing     0 %

 

Mandatory Prepayments.   IM Brands is required to prepay the Loan under the following conditions:  (1) if certain indebtedness is incurred by the Company; (2) if IM Brands undertakes certain asset sales or sales of capital stock, with limited exceptions; or (3) if there is a payment of the benefits of a life insurance policy for Isaac Mizrahi held by the Company.

 

Excess Cash Flow Sweep.   In addition to the Mandatory Prepayments described above, if for any fiscal year ending on or subsequent to December 31, 2012, there is excess cash flow (as defined in the Loan agreements) for such year, then on the payment date following the end of such year, IM Brands is required to make a principal payment on the Loan equal to the lesser of (i) 50% of the excess cash flow or (ii) the positive result of the unencumbered cash and cash equivalents of the Company minus the greater of (x) the Excess Liquidity required to be maintained by IM Brands and (y) $3,000,000. For the period ended December 31, 2011, there was no Excess Cash Flow Sweep payment due.

 

Lender Warrants. At the closing of the Loan, the Company issued to the Noteholders seven year warrants (the “Lender Warrants”) to purchase 364,428 shares of the Common Stock, representing 5% of the Common Stock outstanding as of the Closing Date on a fully diluted basis.  The warrants have an exercise price of $0.01 and contain a cashless exercise provision.  The Company granted to the holders of the Lender Warrants piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Lender Warrants.  The carrying value of the Term Loan has been reduced by the market value of the warrants, equal to $3.33 per share.  The Company used the Black-Scholes method to determine valuation.  The amount of the original loan discount is $1,214,000, resulting in an initial net loan balance of $12,286,000.  The Term Loan balance as of December 31, 2011 is $12,344,000.

 

Financial Covenants.  So long as the Loan remains unpaid or unsatisfied, IM Brands shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

  1. Minimum Liquidity .  Permit Excess Liquidity to be less than the amount set forth below during each applicable period set forth below:

 

Fiscal Quarter  Excess Liquidity 
September 29, 2011 through December 31, 2011  $1,500,000 
January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012  $1,750,000 
April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012  $2,250,000 
July 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012  $2,750,000 
October 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013  $3,000,000 
July 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013  $3,250,000 
October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014  $3,500,000 
April 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014  $3,750,000 
July 1, 2014 and thereafter  $4,000,000 

 

  2. Capital Expenditures .  Permit the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures to exceed $400,000 (whether or not financed) per year.

 

F-29
 

 

  3. Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio .  Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates (or for the periods) set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates (or for the periods) below to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Trailing Four Fiscal Quarters Ending  

Minimum Fixed Charge

Coverage Ratio

September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012   1.90 to 1.00
March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013   1.60 to 1.00
September 30, 2013, December 31, 2013, March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014   1.50 to 1.00
December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015   1.30 to 1.00
June 30, 2015 and thereafter   1.15 to 1.00

 

  4. Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio .  Permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates (or for the periods) set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates (or for  the periods) below to be greater than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Trailing Four Fiscal Quarters Ending  

Maximum

Consolidated

Leverage Ratio

September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012   3.50 to 1.00
March 31, 2013   3.30 to 1.00
June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013   3.00 to 1.00
December 31, 2013   2.75 to 1.00
March 31, 2014   2.25 to 1.00
June 30, 2014 and thereafter   2.00 to 1.00

 

  5. Minimum Consolidated EBITDA .  Permit Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of each of the fiscal quarters ending on the dates set forth for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on such dates below to be less than the amount set forth opposite such quarter in the table below; provided that for the fiscal quarters ended on December 31, 2011, March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, such periods shall be one fiscal quarter, two fiscal quarters and three fiscal quarters, respectively:

 

Fiscal Quarter  Consolidated EBITDA 
December 31, 2011  $250,000 
March 31, 2012  $1,250,000 
June 30, 2012  $2,500,000 
September 30, 2012  $4,000,000 
December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013  $4,250,000 
June 30, 2013  $4,500,000 
September 30, 2013  $4,750,000 
December 31, 2013 and thereafter  $5,000,000 

 

  6. Dividend Restrictions .  Permit any cash dividends or any other equity distributions.

 

  7. Restricted Cash Payments .  Permit any cash payments for the Seller Note or any contingent earn-out obligations.

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company and IM Brands, LLC were in full compliance with all of the covenants under the Loan.

 

F-30
 

 

Seller Note

 

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, at the closing, the Company delivered to IM Ready a promissory note (the “Seller Note”) in the principal amount of $7,377,000.  The stated interest rate of the Seller Note is 0.25%.  Management has determined that this rate is below the Company’s expected borrowing rate, which is 9.25%.  Therefore, the Company has discounted the Seller Note by $1,740,000 using a 9.0%, imputed annual interest rate, resulting in a current value of $5,637,000.  In addition, the Company pre-paid $123,000 of interest on the Seller Note on the Closing Date.  The Seller Note balance at December 31, 2011 is $5,765,000.

 

The Seller Note initially matures three years from the Closing Date (the “Maturity Date”) subject to extension as described below (the date to which the maturity date of the Seller Note is extended is referred to as the “Subsequent Maturity Date”).  We have the right to pay the Seller Note at the Maturity Date in cash or, subject to the following conditions, in shares of Common Stock.  If we elect to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Seller Note on the Maturity Date by issuing shares of Common Stock, the number of shares issuable will be obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Seller Note then outstanding by the greater of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Maturity Date and (ii) $4.50 subject to certain adjustments; provided, however, that if the fair market value of the Common Stock is less than $4.50 as adjusted, IM Ready will have the option to extend the maturity of the Seller Note to the Subsequent Maturity Date. If the maturity date of the Seller Note is so extended, IM Ready will have the option to convert the Seller Note into Common Shares based on the greater of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Subsequent Maturity Date and (ii) $4.50, subject to certain adjustments. If the maturity date of the Seller Note is extended, we will also have the option to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Seller Note on the Subsequent Maturity Date in cash or by issuing the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Note outstanding on the Subsequent Maturity Date by the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Maturity Date.  In addition, at any time the Seller Note is outstanding, we have the right to convert the Note, in whole or in part, into the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing the principal amount to be converted by the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of the conversion, so long as the fair market value of our Common Stock is at least $4.50. 

 

Long Term Installment Obligations

 

As described in Note 3 herein, prior to the Merger and related transactions, Earthbound had certain rights and provided certain services to IM Ready related to the Isaac Mizrahi Business. Effective as of the Closing Date, IM Ready and Earthbound entered into the Services Agreement pursuant to which Earthbound provided transitional services to IM Ready prior to the closing of the Merger and for which Earthbound received from IM Ready $600,000 in cash on the Closing Date and IM Ready agreed to pay to Earthbound an additional payment of $1,500,000 (the “Future Payment”), with such amount payable over the next five years. The Company assumed the obligations related to the Future Payment from IM Ready upon its acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business. The five-year obligation is non-interest bearing and the Company has discounted the amount of the installment obligation by a 9.25% imputed annual interest rate, resulting in an initial value of $1,132,000. The balance of the Installment Obligation at December 31, 2011 is $1,158,000.

 

Payments are due quarterly beginning March 2012.  Annual payments are as follows:

 

   Year Ending December 31, 
2012  $150,000 
2013   325,000 
2014   325,000 
2015   350,000 
2016   350,000 
Total  $1,500,000 

 

Capitalized Lease Obligations

 

The Company assumed the obligations from the Seller under an equipment lease through February 2013.  The net discounted payments of the lease obligations are in excess of 90% of the fair market value (FMV) of the equipment.  The Company has capitalized the discounted lease payments by its imputed interest rate of 9.25%. The capital lease obligation balance at December 31, 2011 is $20,000.

 

F-31
 

  

6.  Stockholders’ Equity

 

The Merger

 

On September 29, 2011, NetFabrics entered into an Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which a subsidiary of NetFabrics was merged with and into XCel, with XCel surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). Pursuant to the Merger, the Company exchanged all of its outstanding common stock for shares of NetFabrics and issued an aggregate 944,668 shares of Common Stock for each share of the common stock outstanding at the effective time of the Merger.

 

Also in connection with the Merger and related transactions, as more fully described herein, the Company issued (i) 2,759,000 shares of Common Stock to IM Ready, and 944,688 shares of Common Stock to Earthbound, both in satisfaction of Old XCel’s obligations under an asset purchase agreement with IM Ready and (ii) 47,132 shares of Common Stock to Mr. Stephen J. Cole-Hatchard or his designees, a then-current director of the Company for his continued service as a director of the Company until new directors were appointed to the board of directors of the Company, which appointments were effective on October 17, 2011 and at which point Mr. Cole-Hatchard resigned from the Company’s board of directors.

 

On September 28, 2011, NetFabrics filed an amendment to its certificate of incorporation and affected a 1 for 520.5479607 reverse stock split such that holders of its Common Stock prior to the Merger held a total of 186,811 shares of Common Stock and options and warrants to purchase 1,064 shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger.  After giving effect to the Merger, the Offering, the Loan and the transactions related thereto (all as defined and described herein), there were 5,743,319 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of the Closing Date.  All numbers of shares of Common Stock referenced herein are on a post-split basis.

 

Additionally, 20,000 of the shares of Common Stock held by Beaufort Ventures, PLC, a principal stockholder of the Company prior to the Merger, are being held in escrow until such time as final determination is made by the Internal Revenue Service of certain Company tax liabilities.  As additional consideration for the Merger, Old XCel paid $125,000 at the Closing to the then-current counsel of NetFabrics in order to extinguish certain remaining liabilities of the Company immediately preceding the Merger.

 

Private Placement

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the Merger, and pursuant to a Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) between the Company and certain accredited investors (the “Investors”) named in the Subscription Agreement, we completed an offering (the “Offering”), raising proceeds of $4,305,000, through the sale of 8.61 units (each, a “Unit,” and collectively, the “Units”), each Unit consisting of One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares of Common Stock and a Warrant to purchase Fifty Thousand (50,000) shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (the “Warrants” and together with the Common Stock the “Securities”) at a price of $500,000 per Unit.  Certain executive officers and their affiliates purchased 4.25 Units in the Offering on the same terms and conditions as other Investors (the “Insider Participation”).

 

The Warrants may be exercised at any time upon the election of the holder, beginning on the date of issuance and ending on September 29, 2016. If, one (1) year from the date of issuance there is no effective registration statement registering the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, the Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis. The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon the exercise of Warrants are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, such as stock splits, stock dividends or our recapitalization.  In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of Warrants will not be entitled to participate in the distribution of our assets.  Holders of Warrants do not have voting, pre-emptive, subscription or other rights of stockholders in respect of the Warrants, nor shall holders thereof be entitled to receive dividends.

 

F-32
 

  

In connection with the Offering, we issued to the placement agent, for placement agent services and as nominal consideration, five-year warrants (the “Agent Warrants”) to purchase 9,800 shares of Common Stock, exercisable at any time at a price equal to $5.50 per share, valued at approximately $3,000.

 

Registration Requirements

 

We have agreed to register the shares of the Common Stock and 100% of the Warrant Shares issued in connection with the Offering, on a registration statement to be filed with the Commission (the “Registration Statement”) within sixty (60) days after the final closing of the Offering (the “Filing Date”) and keep the Registration Statement effective until the earlier of (i) September 29, 2012 or (ii) until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold, or may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144.

 

The Agent Warrants have registration rights similar to the registration rights afforded to the Investors.

 

The Company agreed to include up to 1,200,000 of the shares of Common Stock issuable to IM Ready on the Closing Date in the Registration Statement.

 

The Company has granted to certain of the executive officers pursuant to their individual employment agreements piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the executive warrants.  These individuals have, however, agreed not to include such shares in the Registration Statement.

 

The Company granted to the holders of the Lender Warrants (as defined herein) piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Lender Warrants and the share issuable upon exercise of the Lender Warrants will be included in the Registration Statement.

 

2011 Equity Incentive Plan

 

As of the Closing Date, the Company assumed the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Old XCel as approved by Old XCel’s board of directors and stockholders. The purpose of the Plan is to enable the Company to offer its employees, officers, directors, consultants and others whose past, present and/or potential contributions to the Company have been, are or will be important to the success of the Company, an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. A total of 2,500,000 shares of common stock are eligible for issuance under the Plan. The Plan provides for the grant of any or all of the following types of awards: stock options, restricted stock, deferred stock, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards. The Plan will be administered by the Board, or, at the Board's discretion, a committee of the Board. On October 17, 2011, the Company issued to the board 250,000 options.   33.33% vest immediately, 33.34% vest on the first anniversary of the grant and the 33.34% vest on the 2nd anniversary of the grant.  On October 21, 2011 the Company issued to employees (non-management) 17,125 stock options and 17,125 restricted stock grants. The employee stock options and restricted stock grants vest 50% on the first anniversary of the grant and 50% vest on the 2nd anniversary of the grant. 

 

Management Warrants

 

As of the Closing Date, the Company issued to management warrants to purchase 463,750 shares of common stock. The warrants are exercisable in whole or in part, at an exercise price of $5.00 per share (“Exercise Price”).  The warrants consist of (1) immediately exercisable warrants to purchase 363,750 shares of common stock, beginning on the date of issuance and ending of the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date and (2) 100,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants subject to 2-year, even vesting from the Closing Date and ending of the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date.  Upon the expiration of the Warrant exercise period, the Warrants will expire and become void and worthless. The stock based compensation recorded for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 is $324,000.

 

F-33
 

  

Investor Warrants

 

As part of the Offering, we issued Warrants to purchase 430,500 shares of common stock to investors in the Offering.  The Warrants are exercisable in whole or in part, at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (“Exercise Price”).  The Warrants may be exercised at any time upon the election of the holder, beginning on the date of issuance and ending of the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date.  Upon the expiration of the Warrant exercise period, the Warrants will expire and become void and worthless.

 

Stock Options

 

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.

 

The fair value for these options and warrants for all years was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

Expected Volatility     35-42 %
Expected Dividend Yield     0 %
Expected Life (Term)     3 – 5.75 years  
Risk-Free Interest Rate     0.42% - 0.98 %

 

The options that the Company granted under its plans expire at various times, either five, seven or ten years from the date of grant, depending on the particular grant.

 

Options 

 

       Weighted-Average 
   Options   Exercise Price 
         
Outstanding at September 28, 2011   576   $728.77 
Granted   267,125    5.00 
Canceled   -    - 
Exercised   -    - 
Expired/Forfeited   -    - 
Outstanding at December 31, 2011   267,701   $6.56 
Exercisable at December 31, 2011   83,076   $10.02 

 

Compensation expense related to stock option grants for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 was $43,000.  

 

Warrants

 

       Weighted-Average 
   Warrants   Exercise Price 
         
Outstanding at September 28, 2011   1,065   $0.52 
Granted   1,268,478    1.88 
Canceled   -    - 
Exercised   50,000    0.01 
Expired/Forfeited   -    - 
Outstanding at December 31, 2011   1,219,543   $1.95 
Exercisable at December 31, 2011   1,169,543   $1.61 

 

F-34
 

 

The Company values other warrants issued to non-employees at the commitment date at the fair market value of the instruments issued, a measure which is more readily available than the fair market value of services rendered, using the Black-Scholes model. The fair market value of the instruments issued is expensed over the vesting period. The stock based compensation recorded for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 is $324,000.

 

Restricted Stock

 

Compensation cost for restricted stock is measured as the excess, if any, of the market price of the Company’s stock at the date the common stock is issued over the amount the employee must pay to acquire the stock (which is generally zero). The compensation cost, net of projected forfeitures, is recognized over the period between the issue date and the date any restrictions lapse, with compensation cost for grants with a graded vesting schedule recognized using the treasury method. The restrictions do not affect voting and dividend rights.

 

   Restricted
Shares		   Weighted-Average
Exercise Price		 
         
Outstanding at September 28, 2011   -   $- 
Granted   17,125    3.34 
Canceled   -    - 
Vested   -    - 
Expired/Forfeited   -    - 
Outstanding at December 31, 2011   17,125   $3.34 

 

On October 21, 2011, the Company issued to employees (non-management) 17,125 restricted stock grants. The restricted stock granted to employees vests as follows: (i) 50% on the first anniversary of the grant, and (ii) 50% on the 2nd anniversary of the grant. The stock based compensation recorded for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 is $5,000. 

 

Shares Available Under the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan

 

At December 31, 2011 there were 2,215,750 common shares available for issuance under the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Shares Reserved for Issuance

 

At December 31, 2011 there were 3,702,994 common shares reserved for issuance pursuant to warrants, stock options and availability for issuance under the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Dividends

 

The Company has not paid any dividends to date.

 

F-35
 

 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Leases

 

We lease our current facility under an operating lease expiring on February 28, 2016. The future minimum non-cancelable lease payments are as follows:

 

   Lease
Payments		 
     
Year ending December 31, 2012  $532,000 
Year ending December 31, 2013   555,000 
Year ending December 31, 2014   584,000 
Year ending December 31, 2015   601,000 
Year ending December 31, 2016   102,000 
Total future minimum lease payments  $2,374,000 

 

The lease requires the Company to pay additional rents by virtue of increases in the base taxes and other costs on the property. Additional rents have not been material. Total rent expense was $145,000 for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 (the Successor period). Rent expense for the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010 (the Predecessor periods) is $436,000 and $525,000, respectively.

 

The Company has contracts with certain executives and key employees. The future minimum payments under these contracts are:

 

   Employment
Contract
Payments		 
     
Year ending December 31, 2012  $2,156,000 
Year ending December 31, 2013   2,505,000 
Year ending December 31, 2014   2,008,000 
Total future minimum lease payments  $6,669,000 

 

8. Income taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740. Under ASC Topic 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, management reviews both positive and negative evidence pursuant to the requirements of ASC Topic 740, including current and historical results of operations, future income projections and the overall prospects of the Company's business. See below in this Note 8 for information relating to the Predecessor.

 

Due to operating losses incurred, the Successor has no current income tax provision for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 The Predecessor entity, as further discussed below, was subject to State and local unincorporated business income taxes. The income tax provision (benefit) consists of the following:

  

F-36
 

  

   Successor   Predecessor 
   Period
September 29,
2011 to
December 31,
2011		   Period
January 1, 2011 to
September 28,
2011		   Year Ended
December 31,
2010		 
Current:               
Federal  $-   $-   $- 
State and local   -    175,000    222,000 
Total current   -    175,000    222,000 
                
Deferred:               
Federal   (178,000)   -    - 
State and local   (12,000)   -    - 
Total deferred   (190,000    -    - 
                
Total provision (benefit)  $(190,000)  $175,000   $222,000 

 

The reconciliation of income tax computed at the Federal and state statutory rate to loss before taxes are as follows:

 

   Successor   Predecessor 
   Period September
29, 2011 to
December 31,
2011		   Period January
1, 2011 to
September 28,
2011		   Year Ended
December 31,
2010		 
Federal statutory income tax rate   (34.0)%   -    - 
State and local, net of federal tax   (2.5)%   4.0%   4.0%
Non deductible stock compensation   14.9%   -      
Miscellaneous difference   3.7%        0.5%
    (17.9)%   4.0%   4.5%

 

The significant components of net deferred tax assets of the Company consist of the following:

  

   Successor 
Deferred tax assets  December 31,
2011		 
Federal state and local net operating loss carryforwards  $310,000 
Stock based compensation   135,000 
Accrued compensation and other   18,000 
Total deferred tax assets   463,000 
      
Deferred tax liability     
Property and equipment   13,000 
Basis difference arising from discounted note payable   590,000 
Basis difference arising from intangible assets of acquisition   9,691,000 
Total deferred tax liabilities   10,294,000 
Net deferred tax liabilities  $9,831,000 

 

The Successor has available at December 31, 2011 approximately $310,000 of unused net operating loss carryforwards that may be applied against future taxable income, which begin to expire in 2031. Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the amounts of and benefits from net operating loss carry forwards may be impaired or limited in certain circumstances. Events which cause limitations in the amount of net operating losses that the Company may utilize in any one year include, but are not limited to a cumulative ownership change of more than 50%, as defined, over a three year period. The amount of such limitation, if any, has not been determined.

 

F-37
 

  

IM Ready-Made, LLC is a limited liability company, and treated as a partnership for income tax reporting purposes.  The Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) provides that any income or loss is passed through to the members for federal and state income tax purposes.  Accordingly, neither IM Ready-Made, LLC nor its unincorporated Licensing Business division (the Predecessor) has provided for federal or state income taxes.  IM Ready-Made, LLC is subject to New York City unincorporated business taxes.  The Predecessor has provided for these taxes with an effective tax rate of approximately 4%

 

9. Related Party Transactions

 

IPX Capital, LLC

 

Old XCel and its wholly owned subsidiary IM Brands, collectively the “Buyers,” entered into the Purchase Agreement with IM Ready, whereby the Buyers acquired certain assets and assumed certain obligations of IM Ready.  IPX Capital, LLC (“IPX”) entered into certain agreements with Old XCel and IM Ready whereby IPX provided services to both Old XCel and IM-Ready.  IPX and Old XCel have common ownership and common management.

 

IPX Capital, LLC – Xcel Brands, Inc., Due Diligence Service Agreement

 

IPX and Old XCel entered into a Due Diligence Service Agreement dated December 3, 2010 whereby IPX provided various due diligence tasks relating to the Purchase Agreement including financial review of IM Ready, preparing business plans, financial projections and other documents required in connection with the transaction, advise the Buyers regarding the corporate, legal and financial structure of the transaction and assist the Buyers with the negotiation of documentation relating to the transaction. Market service fees for this type of engagement are typically either a fixed dollar amount or based upon hourly billing rates, plus reimbursement of direct expenses. IPX waived all of its fees it would have otherwise been entitled to, but not reimbursement of its direct expenses. Direct expenses incurred by, and reimbursable to IPX by Old XCel, subject to the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, of approximately $242,000 were paid by the Company following the Closing Date. The expense was recognized by the Company on the Closing Date.

 

Amounts due to Stockholder

 

Robert D’Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and a principal stockholder of the Company, advanced certain expenses including but not limited to legal fees, banking fees, lender fees and appraisals on behalf of Old XCel of approximately $162,000.  The Company reimbursed D’Loren in October 2011 of the full amount. There have been no further advances from D’Loren since the Closing Date.

 

Todd Slater

 

On August 12, 2011, Old XCel entered into a one year agreement which was amended on October 4, 2011, with Todd Slater, who was appointed as a director of the Company commencing on October 17, 2011, for services related to the Company’s licensing strategy and introduction of potential licensees. Slater’s agreement provides for a one-time fee in the amount of $52,500 for strategic and planning services related to the Company’s licensing strategy. In addition, during the term of the agreement or during the year following the expiration of the term of the agreement, if the Company enters into a license or distribution agreement with a licensee introduced by Mr. Slater, Mr. Slater will receive a commission equal to fifteen percent (15%) of all net royalties received by the Company during the first term of such agreement, payable within thirty days of receipt of the net royalties.  Mr. Slater earned $53,000 for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 (the Successor period).

 

F-38
 

  

Jones Texas, LLC

 

On May 12, 2011, Old XCel entered into an agreement with Jones Texas, LLC (the “Jones Texas Agreement”) pursuant to which Old XCel agreed to pay Jones Texas, LLC consulting fees of $30,000 to assist in the restructure of IM Ready’s couture and ready-to-wear apparel businesses, which fees became due and payable to Jones Texas, LLC upon the completion of such restructuring work and closing of the transactions pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Jones Texas Agreement was terminated on July 31, 2011, however given the related work had been completed by Jones Texas, LLC, Old XCel recorded a $30,000 obligation to Jones Texas, LLC which obligation was subject to the closing of the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business. Ed Jones, a principal shareholder and chief executive officer of Jones Texas, LLC was appointed to the Company’s board of directors following the Merger, which appointment became effective on October 17, 2011. The Company has no further obligations under the Jones Texas Agreement. The Company paid Jones Texas, LLC $30,000 following the Closing Date and the expense was recognized by the Company on the Closing Date.

 

Earthbound, LLC

 

Earthbound entered into a service agreement with Laugh Club, Inc. (“Laugh Club”) on November 6, 2001 whereby Laugh Club engaged Earthbound to provide brand management and design services for mass-merchandised retail products for the Isaac Mizrahi Business (the “Earthbound Agreement”).  Isaac Mizrahi, individually, is the controlling member and manager of Laugh Club and IM Ready-Made, LLC.  On September 3, 2002, Laugh Club assigned all of the rights and obligations in the Earthbound Agreement to IM Ready. Earthbound has no common ownership, direct or indirect, with either IM Ready or Laugh Club.  

 

Effective as of the Closing Date, IM Ready and Earthbound entered into the Services Agreement pursuant to which Earthbound provided transitional services to IM Ready prior to the closing of the transactions pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and Contribution Agreement, for which Earthbound received from IM Ready $600,000 in cash on the Closing Date and IM Ready agreed to pay Earthbound a total of $1,500,000 in additional consideration over the next five years (See Note 4, Debt for details). The Company assumed such payment obligation from IM Ready pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Jeff Cohen is a principal owner of Earthbound and sits on the Company’s board of directors.

 

Licensing Agent Agreement

 

On August 2, 2011, Old XCel entered into a licensing agent agreement with Adam Dweck (“AD”) who is an Executive Vice President of Earthbound pursuant to which AD is entitled to a five percent (5%); commission on any royalties we receive under any new license agreements that he procures for us during the initial term of such license agreements. We are obligated to grant to AD 5-year warrants to purchase 12,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share, subject to the AD generating $0.5 million of accumulated royalties and an additional 5-year warrants to purchase12,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share, subject to the AD generating $1.0 million of accumulated royalties. Additionally, the AD shall be entitled to receive 5-year warrants to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock priced at the fair market value at the time of issuance, subject to the AD generating $2.0 million of accumulated royalties. AD is the son of Jack Dweck, who is a principal of Earthbound and has been granted observer rights related to the Company’s meetings of its board of directors.

 

IM Ready-Made, LLC

 

The Company and IM Ready-Made, LLC had transaction between each other relating to the transitions of the Isaac Mizrahi Business from IM ready to the Company. As of December 31, 2011 IM Ready owes the Company approximately $85,000.

 

F-39
 

 

Offering

 

Marisa Gardini, our Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and Marketing and a director; the Irrevocable Trust of Rose Dempsey; the D’Loren Family Trust; James Haran, our Chief Financial Officer; Seth Burroughs, our Executive Vice President of Business Development and Treasury; and Mark X. DiSanto Investment Trust, a director, purchased 2; .495; .255; .15; .10 and .25 Units in the Offering (as defined in Note 6) for purchase prices of $1,000,000; $247,500; $127,500; $75,000; $50,000; and $125,000, on the same terms and conditions as other investors in the Offering.

 

10. Subsequent Events

 

None.

 

11. Unaudited Quarterly Results

 

Unaudited interim consolidated financial information 2011 and 2010 is summarized as follows:

 

   Predecessor   Successor 
Year Ended December 31, 2011  First
Quarter		   Second
Quarter		   Period July 1,
2011 to Sept.
28, 2011		   Period Sept.
29, 2011 to
Sept. 30, 2011		   Fourth
Quarter		 
                     
Net licensing & design revenues  $2,895,000   $2,894,000   $2,940,000   $47,000   $2,599,000 
Operating income (loss)   1,358,000    1,480,000    1,510,000    (803,000)   290,000 
Net Income (loss)   1,304,000    1,421,000    1,448,000    (804,000)   (65,000)
                          
Basic and dilutive earnings per share (1)                  (0.14)   (0.01)

 

  (1) Quarterly earnings per share amounts may not add to full year amounts due to rounding

 

   Predecessor 
The Year Ended December 31, 2010  First
Quarter		   Second
Quarter		   Third
Quarter		   Fourth
Quarter		 
                 
Licensing and other revenue  $2,102,000   $1,420,000   $3,207,000   $3,067,000 
Operating income   1,054,000    263,000    1,855,000    1,674,000 
Net income   1,012,000    252,000    1,776,000    1,584,000 

 

F-40
 

 

 

 

 

XCEL BRANDS, INC.

 

2,912,860 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

 

PROSPECTUS

 

YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT OR THAT WE HAVE REFERRED YOU TO. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL COMMON STOCK AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY COMMON STOCK IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

 

The Date of This Prospectus is July 5, 2012