UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

Schedule 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )

 

Check the appropriate box:

XCel Brands, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

XCel Brands, Inc.
1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor
New York, NY 10018

September 18, 2017

Dear Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend XCel Brands, Inc.’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which will be held on Monday, October 23, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. (local time), at XCel Brands, Inc.’s offices at 1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor, New York, NY 10018. 

The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, which follow, describe the business to be conducted at the meeting.

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, we will appreciate a prompt submission of your vote. We hope to see you at the meeting.

Cordially,
 
Robert D’Loren
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President

XCel Brands, Inc.
1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor
New York, NY 10018

NOTICE OF 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MONDAY OCTOBER 23, 2017

To the Stockholders of XCel Brands, Inc.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of XCel Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on Monday, October 23, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. (local time), at the Company’s offices at 1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor, New York, NY 10018, for the following purposes: 

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 7, 2017 are entitled to receive the notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof.

The XCel Brands Board of Directors believes that the election of the nominees specified in the accompanying proxy statement as directors at the Annual Meeting is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders and, accordingly, unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” such nominees. Furthermore, the Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” further amending and restating the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and vote “FOR” ratifying the appointment of CohnReznick LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ATTENDANCE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE LIMITED TO STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE RECORD DATE (OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES) HOLDING EVIDENCE OF OWNERSHIP. IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD BY A BANK OR BROKER, PLEASE BRING TO THE ANNUAL MEETING YOUR BANK OR BROKER STATEMENT EVIDENCING YOUR BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY’S STOCK TO GAIN ADMISSION TO THE ANNUAL MEETING.

By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
/s/ Robert D’Loren

Robert W. D’Loren
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Chief Executive Officer and President

September 18, 2017

XCel Brands, Inc.
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. It does not contain all of the information you should consider, and you should read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Date:		October 23, 2017
Time:		10:00 A.M. (local time)
Place:		XCel Brands, Inc.’s Offices at 1333 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Record Date:		September 7, 2017
Voting:		Stockholders as of the Record Date are entitled to one vote per share on matters presented at the Annual Meeting or any postponements or adjournments of the Annual Meeting

Voting Matters and the Board’s Recommendation

Agenda Item		Board Vote Recommendation		Page Reference
Election of six directors		FOR each Director Nominee		6
Approval of the further amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation		FOR		33
Ratification of the appointment of CohnReznick LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017		FOR		36

In addition to these matters, stockholders may be asked to vote on such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.

XCEL BRANDS, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 23, 2017

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of XCel Brands, Inc. (the “Company”, “XCel”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) for use at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on October 23, 2017, including any postponements or adjournments thereof, for the purposes set forth below.

Management intends to send or give to stockholders this proxy statement, the accompanying form of proxy card and the 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders on or about September 20, 2017. 

Proxies in the accompanying form, duly executed and returned to the management of the Company and not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting. Any proxy given pursuant to such solicitation may be revoked by the stockholder at any time prior to the voting of the proxy by a subsequently dated proxy, by written notification to the Secretary of the Company, or by personally withdrawing the proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in itself constitute a revocation of your proxy.

If your shares are held in street name through a broker, bank, or other nominee, please review the voting instructions provided by the broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares or contact such organization regarding how to change your vote.

The address and telephone number of the principal executive offices of the Company are:

1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Telephone No.: (347) 727-2481

At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company will vote on: (1) the election of six nominees to serve as directors, (2) the approval of the further amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (3) the ratification of the appointment of CohnReznick LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017; and (4) any other matters properly brought before the Annual Meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to Be Held on October 23, 2017: This Proxy Statement, the form of proxy and the Company’s 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders are available for review on the Internet at www.ir.xcelbrands.com/annuals-proxies.

Your Vote is Important
Please vote as promptly as possible by signing, dating and returning the enclosed Proxy Card.
You may also vote by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

OUTSTANDING STOCK AND VOTING RIGHTS

Only holders of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on September 7, 2017 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, the Company had 18,471,001 shares of common stock outstanding. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters. There are no cumulative voting rights. As of the Record Date, the Company had no shares of preferred stock outstanding. 

VOTING PROCEDURES

Quorum.  A quorum is present if a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting are present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and “broker non-votes” (i.e., when a broker does not have discretionary authority to vote on a specific issue) are counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum.

Vote Required and Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes.  The table below summarizes the votes required for approval of each matter to be brought before the Annual Meeting, as well as the treatment of abstentions and broker non-votes. If you sign and return a proxy but do not specify how you want your shares voted, your shares will be voted FOR the director nominees and FOR the other proposals listed below.

		Proposal		Vote Required for Approval of Each Item		Abstentions		Broker Non-Votes
I		Election of Directors		Each director shall be elected by a majority of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.		Counted as “against”		No effect on this proposal.
II		Approval of a further amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation		The affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares on Proposal II is required to approve this proposal.		Counted as “against”		Counted as “against”
III		Ratification of Appointment of Auditors		The affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on Proposal III is required to approve this proposal.		Counted as “against”		Not applicable since brokers have discretionary authority to vote on this proposal.

Please note that brokers may not use discretionary authority to vote shares on Proposals I and II if they have not received instructions from their clients. Please vote your proxy or deliver instructions to your broker so your vote can be counted.

The approval of any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any postponement or adjournment thereof, will require the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such proposal.

Discretionary Voting Power.  The Board is not aware of any matters other than those set forth in this proxy statement that will be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matter should properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons authorized by the accompanying proxy will vote and act with respect thereto in what, according to their judgment, is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. If any nominee is unable (or for whatever reason declines) to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, proxies may be voted for the election of a qualified substitute nominee selected by the Board.

PROPOSAL I
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides for the annual election of all of its directors. Currently, at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, directors are elected to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified. Each director nominee named below, who is presently a member of the Company’s Board, has indicated to the Board that he or she will be available to serve on the Board if elected. All nominees have been recommended by the Company’s Nominating Committee.

The following table sets forth the name, age and principal occupation of our current directors, including the nominees for election at this Annual Meeting, and the length of continuous service as a director of the Company. In addition to the information presented below regarding each director’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to the conclusion that he or she should serve as a director, we also believe that all of our directors have a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. They each have demonstrated business acumen and an ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as a commitment of service to XCel Brands and our Board. 

Name		Age		Principal Occupation or Employment		Director Since
Robert W. D’Loren		59		Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer and President		2011
Mark DiSanto		55		Director		2011
Michael R. Francis		54		Director		2015
Edward Jones, III		69		Director		2011
Richard Kirschenbaum		68		Director		2016
Howard Liebman		75		Director		2011
Benjamin Malka		56		Director		2014

Director Nominees

Robert D’Loren has been the Chairman of our Board and our Chief Executive Officer and President since September 2011. Mr. D’Loren has been an entrepreneur, innovator and pioneer of the consumer branded products industry for the past 35 years. Mr. D’Loren has spearheaded the Company’s omni-channel platform, connecting the channels of digital, brick-and-mortar, social media and direct-response television to create a single customer view and brand experience for Xcel’s brands. He served as Chairman and CEO of IPX Capital, LLC and its subsidiaries, a consumer products investment company, from 2009 to 2011. He continues to serve as IPX Capital LLC’s Chairman.

Prior to the Company, from June 2006 to July 2008, Mr. D’Loren was a director, President and CEO of NexCen Brands, Inc., a global brand acquisition and management company with holdings that included The Athlete’s Foot, Waverly Home, Bill Blass, MaggieMoo’s, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzel Time, Pretzelmaker, Great American Cookies, and The Shoe Box.

From 2002 to 2006, Mr. D’Loren’s work among consumer brands continued as President and CEO of UCC Capital Corporation, an intellectual property investment company where he invested in the consumer branded products, media and entertainment sectors. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. D’Loren founded and acted as President and Chief Operating Officer of CAK Universal Credit Corporation, an intellectual property finance company. Mr. D’Loren’s total career debt and equity investments in over 30 entertainment and consumer branded products companies have exceeded $1.0 billion. In 1985, he founded and served as President and CEO of the D’Loren Organization, an investment and restructuring firm responsible for over $2 billion of transactions. Mr. D’Loren has also served as an asset manager for Fosterlane Management, as well as a manager with Deloitte.

Mr. D’Loren has served on the Board of Directors for Iconix Brand Group, Longaberger Company, Business Loan Center and as a board advisor to The Athletes Foot and Bill Blass, Ltd. He also serves on the board of directors for the Achilles Track Club International. Mr. D’Loren is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an M.S. degree from Columbia University and a B.S. degree from New York University.

Mark DiSanto has served as a member of our Board since October 2011. Since 1988, 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 1.5 million square feet. Mr. DiSanto received a degree in business administration from Villanova University’s College of Commerce and Finance, a J.D. degree from the University of Toledo College of Law and an M.S. degree in real estate development from Columbia University.

Michael R. Francis joined our Board in June 2015. Mr. Francis is founder and CEO of Fairview Associates, LLC, a retail and branding consultancy. From February 2012 to December 2015, Mr. Francis served as the Chief Global Brand Officer of DreamWorks Animation SKG, which creates world-class entertainment, including animated feature films, television specials and series, and live-entertainment properties for audiences around the world. During this tenure with DreamWorks, Mr. Francis was responsible for global consumer products, retail, brand strategy, creative design, location-based entertainment, digital, publishing and franchise development. From November 2010 to June 2011, Mr. Francis served as the President of J.C. Penney Company, Inc., one of the largest department store operators in the United States. Prior to November 2010, Mr. Francis spent more than 26 years with Target Corporation, an American retailing company and the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, in various roles including Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer. Mr. Francis has a B.A. degree in international studies from the University of Michigan.

Richard Kirschenbaum has served as a member of our Board since August 2016. Mr. Kirschenbaum has over 35 years experience in the footwear business. He transformed a small family business into a multi-brand regional footwear and accessories chain, The ShoeBox. Mr. Kirschenbaum has been the CFO of the ShoeBox, Inc. since 1984. 

Howard Liebman has served as a member of our Board since October 2011. He 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 a director of Shorewood Packaging Corporation, a 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.

Benjamin Malka has served as a member of our Board since June 2014. Since August 2011, Mr. Malka has been the Chief Executive Officer of Halston Operating Company, LLC, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of apparel, leather goods, footwear and accessories. From September 2001 through July 2011, Mr. Malka was President of BCBG Max Azria Group, Inc., a designer, manufacturer and distributor of apparel, leather goods, footwear and accessories.

Current Director

Edward Jones, III has served as a member of our Board since October 2011. His career in the fashion industry has spanned over 35 years. 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, Mr. Jones has held senior executive positions in major companies, including as 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), and Chief Merchandising Officer (Haggar Men’s & Women’s). For the past five 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 60 companies or brands and has advised on brand and business model strategy in over half of these companies and brands.

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 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 the Company 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 our acquisition strategy and how to manage and license acquired brands.

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

Michael R. Francis brings extensive senior level experience in the media and retail industries, as well as relationships in the media and retail industries.

Richard Kirschenbaum has extensive knowledge and experience in the fashion, retail and branded consumer sectors through his extensive career. Mr. Kirschenbaum also bring relationships with various retailers and industry insiders in the consumer products sector.

Howard Liebman brings comprehensive 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. 

Benjamin Malka brings extensive senior level experience in the fashion and apparel industries, as well as relationships in the fashion and apparel industries.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SPECIFIED ABOVE.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Board of Directors and Director Independence 

The Board currently consists of seven members and the Board has approved a decrease in the number of directors to six members effective with the stockholder vote to elect directors at the Annual Meeting. The Board has determined that Messrs. DiSanto, Francis, Kirschenbaum and Liebman meet the director independence requirements under the applicable listing rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”). 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 the applicable NASDAQ rules, and each member is free of any relationship that would interfere with his individual exercise of independent judgment.

Leadership Structure

Currently, our Board believes our current leadership structure, where our Chief Executive Officer also serves as our Chairman, provides the most efficient and effective leadership model by enhancing the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s ability to provide insight and direction of business strategies and plans to both our Board and management. Our Board believes our business strategies are best served if the Chairman is also a member of our management team. The Board believes that a single person, acting in the capacities of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, provides unified leadership and focus. We do not have a lead independent director; however, all of our Board committees are comprised of independent directors. We believe the independent nature of our Board committees, as well as the practice of our independent directors to meet in executive session without Mr. D’Loren and the other members of our management present, ensures that our Board maintains a level of independent oversight of management that is appropriate for the Company.

Board Oversight of Risk

The Board’s role in the Company’s risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of the executive management team on areas of material risk to the Company, including operational, financial, legal, regulatory, strategic, transactional and reputational risks. The full Board receives these reports from the appropriate “risk owner” within the organization to enable it to understand our risk identification, risk management and risk mitigation strategies.

Board Committees

The Board has three standing committees: (i) the Audit Committee; (ii) the Compensation Committee; and (iii) the Nominating Committee. The committees are comprised solely of persons who meet the definition of an “independent director” under the NASDAQ Listing Rules. In addition, the Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets NASDAQ independence requirements applicable to members of an audit committee. The Board has also determined that members of the Compensation Committee meet additional independence requirements under the NASDAQ Listing Rules for members of a compensation committee.

The Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Compensation Committee operate under written charters adopted by the Board. A copy of our Nominating Committee Charter, Audit Committee Charter and Compensation Committee Charter are available on our website, at the following address: www.ir.xcelbrands.com/corporate-governance. Information on our website does not constitute a part of this proxy statement.

Audit Committee

The Board has appointed an Audit Committee which consists of Messrs. Liebman, Francis, and DiSanto. Each of such persons has been determined to be an “independent director” under the applicable NASDAQ and Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules, which is the independence standard that was adopted by our Board. The Board has determined that Mr. Liebman meets the requirements to serve as the Audit Committee Financial Expert by the Board. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by our Board. The Audit Committee held five meetings during 2016.

The Audit Committee assists the Board 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.

Nominating Committee

The Board has appointed a Nominating Committee consisting of Messrs. DiSanto and Liebman. Each of such persons has been determined to be an “independent director” under the applicable NASDAQ rules. The Board has adopted a written Nominating Committee Charter that sets forth the Nominating Committee’s responsibilities. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during 2016.

The Nominating Committee considers nominees recommended by the Company’s stockholders provided that the recommendation contains sufficient information for the independent directors to assess the suitability of the candidate, including the candidate’s qualifications, name, age, business and residential address. Candidates recommended by stockholders that comply with these procedures will receive the same consideration that candidates recommended by the Nominating Committee receive. Such recommendation must also comply with the “Consideration of Director Nominees” provision below.

Compensation Committee

The Board has appointed a Compensation Committee consisting of Messrs. DiSanto and Kirschenbaum. Each of such persons has been determined to be an “independent director” under the applicable NASDAQ rules. The Board has adopted a written Compensation Committee Charter that sets forth the Compensation Committee’s responsibilities. The Compensation 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. The Compensation Committee held one meeting during 2016. In addition, the Compensation Committee took action by unanimous consent in lieu of meetings.

Process and Procedures for Considering and Determining Executive and Director Compensation

Among other things, the Compensation Committee has the authority and responsibility under its charter to:

Role of Chief Executive Officer in Recommending Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee makes all compensation decisions related to our named executive officers. However, our Chief Executive Officer regularly provides information and recommendations to the Compensation Committee on the performance of the executive officers and appropriate levels and components of compensation, including equity grants as well as other information as the Compensation Committee may request.

Compensation Goals

Our compensation policies are intended to achieve the following objectives:

Compensation programs and policies are reviewed and approved annually but could be adjusted more frequently if determined by the Compensation Committee. Included in this process is establishing the goals and objectives by which employee and executive compensation is determined. Executive officers’ performance is evaluated in light of these performance goals and objectives. The Compensation Committee consults the Chief Executive Officer on the performance of other company executives.

Compensation Surveys and Compensation Consultants

In determining compensation levels, we review compensation levels of companies that we deem to be similar to our Company regardless of their location, competitive factors to enable us to attract executives from other companies, and compensation levels that we deem appropriate to retain and motivate our executives. From time to time, we retain the services of independent compensation consultants to review a wide variety of factors relevant to executive compensation, trends in executive compensation and the identification of relevant peer companies. The Compensation Committee makes all determinations regarding the engagement, fees and services of our compensation consultants, and our compensation consultants report directly to our Compensation Committee.

Board and Committee Meetings and Attendance at Annual Meeting of Stockholders

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Board held five meetings. In addition, the Board took action by unanimous written consent in lieu of meetings. During 2016, each of the Company’s directors attended at least seventy-five percent of the aggregate of: (i) the total number of meetings of the Board; and (ii) the total number of meetings of all Board committees on which they served.

The Company’s current policy strongly encourages that all of its directors attend all Board and committee meetings and the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders, absent extenuating circumstances that would prevent their attendance.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

To our knowledge, based solely on a review of Forms 3 and 4 and any amendments thereto furnished to our Company pursuant to Rule 16a-3(e) under the Exchange Act, or representations that no Forms 5 were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our equity securities were timely filed except that each of Robert D’Loren, James Haran, Seth Burroughs and Howard Liebman did not timely file a Form 4 for one transaction during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

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.ir.xcelbrands.com/corporate-governance.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD

The Board, through its Nominating Committee, has established a process for stockholders to send communications to the Board. Stockholders may communicate with the Board individually or as a group by writing to: The Board of Directors of XCel Brands, Inc. c/o the Secretary, 1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Stockholders should identify their communication as being from an XCel Brands, Inc. stockholder. The Secretary may require reasonable evidence that the communication or other submission is made by a stockholder before transmitting the communication to the Board.

CONSIDERATION OF DIRECTOR NOMINEES

Stockholders wishing to recommend director candidates to the Nominating Committee must submit their recommendations in writing to the Nominating Committee, c/o Secretary, XCel Brands, Inc., 1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

The Nominating Committee considers nominees recommended by the Company’s stockholders provided that the recommendation contains sufficient information for the independent directors to assess the suitability of the candidate, including the candidate’s qualifications, name, age, business and residential address. Candidates recommended by stockholders that comply with these procedures will receive the same consideration that candidates recommended by the Nominating Committee receive. Such recommendation must also state the name of the stockholder who is submitting it. In addition, it must include information regarding the recommended candidate relevant to a determination of whether the recommended candidate would be barred from being considered independent under the NASDAQ rules, or, alternatively, a statement that the recommended candidate would not be so barred. Each nomination is also required to set forth a representation that the stockholder making the nomination is a holder of record of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to vote for the person or persons nominated; a description of all arrangements and understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination was made by the stockholder; such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission had the nominee been nominated by the Board; and the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Company if so elected. A nomination which does not comply with the above requirements or that is not received by the deadline referred to below will not be considered.

The qualities and skills sought in prospective members of our Board will be determined by our independent directors. Generally, director candidates must be qualified individuals who, if added to our Board, would provide the mix of director characteristics, experience, perspectives and skills appropriate for the Company. Criteria for selection of candidates will include, but not be limited to: (i) business and financial acumen, as determined by the committee in its discretion, (ii) qualities reflecting a proven record of accomplishment and ability to work with others, (iii) knowledge of the Company’s industry, (iv) relevant experience and knowledge of corporate governance practices, and (v) expertise in an area relevant to the Company. Such persons should not have commitments that would conflict with the time commitments of a director of the Company.

DEADLINE AND PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING BOARD NOMINATIONS

Our By-Laws requires a stockholder wishing to nominate a candidate for election to our Board at a meeting of our stockholders to give written notice, containing the required information specified below, that must be delivered to or mailed and received by our Secretary at our principal executive offices (currently located at 1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor, New York, NY 10018), not earlier than the close of business on the 120^th calendar day, and not later than the close of business on the 90^th calendar day, prior to the first anniversary of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is more than 30 calendar days earlier or more than 60 calendar days later than such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so delivered or received no earlier than the close of business on the 120^th calendar day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90^th calendar day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is made or given to stockholders less than 100 calendar days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10^th calendar day following the earlier of (i) the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed to stockholders or (ii) the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Company.

Any such notice must set forth in writing the following:

(a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person; (ii) the principal occupation and employment of such person; (iii) the class and series and number of shares of each class and series of capital stock of the Company which are owned beneficially or of record by such person (which information shall be supplemented not later than ten calendar days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date for the meeting; (iv) such person’s executed written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (v) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (or pursuant to any law or statute replacing such section), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (vi) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such person being nominated, on the one hand, and the stockholder and (A) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (B) any beneficial owner of securities of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder, and (C) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with a stockholder associated person (the “Stockholder Associated Person”), on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act if the stockholder making the nomination and any Stockholder Associated Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the person being nominated were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and (vii) the information and agreement required under Section 16 of the By-Laws; and

(b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and record address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Company’s stock ledger, and the name and address of any Stockholder Associated Person; (ii) (A) the class and series and number of shares of each class and series of capital stock of the Company which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and/or of record by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, documentary evidence of such record or beneficial ownership, and the date or dates such shares were acquired and the investment intent at the time such shares were acquired, (B) any derivative instrument directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other direct or indirect right held by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person to profit from, or share in any profit derived from, any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Company, (D) any short interest indirectly or directly held by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in any security issued by the Company, (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Company owned beneficially by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares

of the Company, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Company or derivative instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or derivative instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall, in each case, be supplemented by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person not later than 10 calendar days after the Record Date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the Record Date);  (iii) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder; (iv) any material interest of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in the election of such proposed nominee, individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person therefrom; (v) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons named in its notice; (vi) a representation from the stockholder as to whether the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the person proposed as a nominee and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the election of such person; (vii) whether and the extent to which any agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any shares of the capital stock of the Company, without regard to whether such transaction is required to be reported on a Schedule 13D or other form in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provisions thereto and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (viii) any other information relating to such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made with the SEC in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (or pursuant to any law or statute replacing such section) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. In addition to the information required above, the Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee. 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

Director Compensation in Fiscal 2016

We pay our non-employee directors $3,000 for each board of directors and committee meeting attended, up to a maximum of $12,000 per year for board of directors meetings and up to a maximum of $12,000 per year for committee meetings, except that the chairman of each committee receives $4,000 for each such committee meeting attended, up to a maximum of $16,000 per year.

The following table sets forth information with respect to each non-employee director’s compensation for the year ended December 31, 2016. The dollar amounts shown for Stock Awards represent the grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards or stock options granted during the fiscal year calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718.

Name		Fees Earned or Paid in Cash				Stock Awards				Option Awards				Total
Mark DiSanto(1)(2)(5)		$	32,000			$	46,400			$	99,293			$	177,693
Michael R. Francis(1)(2)		$	24,000			$	46,400			$	35,851			$	106,251
Todd Slater(1)(2)(3)		$	9,000			$	46,400			$	35,851			$	91,251
Richard Kirschenbaum(4)		$	6,000			$	41,200			$	33,481			$	80,681
Edward Jones, III(1)(2)(5)		$	18,000			$	46,400			$	99,293			$	163,693
Howard Liebman(1)(2)(5)		$	28,000			$	46,400			$	99,293			$	173,693
Benjamin Malka(1)(2)		$	12,000			$	46,400			$	35,851			$	94,251

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

All officers serve at the direction of our Board. The Board appoints our officers.

In fiscal 2016, Mr. Robert W. D’Loren served as our Chief Executive Officer and President. In addition to Mr. D’Loren, our other executive officers are as follows:

James Haran has been our Chief Financial Officer since September 2011. Mr. Haran served as CFO of IPX Capital, LLC and its related subsidiaries, from June 2008 to September 2011. Mr. Haran was the Executive Vice President, Capital Markets for NexCen Brands, Inc. from 2006 to May 2008 and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Credit Officer for UCC Capital Corporation, 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 is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. degree from State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

Joe Falco has been our Chief Operating Officer and President of the Mizrahi brands since September 2011. 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 February 2010 to February 2011 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.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Employment Agreements with Executives

Robert D’Loren

On October 1, 2014, and effective as of September 16, 2014, we entered into a three-year employment agreement with Robert D’Loren for him to serve as our Chief Executive Officer, referred to as the D’Loren Employment Agreement. Additionally, we will 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 of directors during the term of the agreement. Following the initial three-year term, the agreement automatically renewed for a one-year term and 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 the termination of the then current term. Under the D’Loren Employment Agreement, Mr. D’Loren’s annual base salary was $826,500 during 2016. The Employment Agreement was further amended on April 26, 2017 to increase Mr. D’Loren’s base salary to $885,500 per annum, effective April 1, 2017. The board of directors or the compensation committee may approve increases (but not decreases) from time to time. Following the initial three-year term, Mr. D’Loren’s base salary will be reviewed at least annually. Mr. D’Loren receives an allowance for an automobile appropriate for his level of position and we 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 $1,500,000 for each calendar year, based on our achievement of annual EBITDA targets. The amount of the cash bonus will be a percentage of 5% of all income generated by the trademarks and other intellectual property owned by us, or IP Income, in excess of $8,000,000 earned and received by us, in accordance with the following schedule:

Annual Level of Target EBITDA Achieved for each fiscal year ending December 31, 2011 and thereafter		Percentage of 5% of the IP 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 a lump sum payment equal to the base salary in effect on the termination date for the longer of two years from the termination date or 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 12 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 or 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. Upon a change of control, notwithstanding the vesting and exercisability schedule in any stock option or other grant agreement between Mr. D’Loren and us, all unvested stock options, shares of restricted stock and other equity awards granted by us to Mr. D’Loren

pursuant to any such agreement shall immediately vest, and all such stock options shall become exercisable and remain exercisable for the lesser of 180 days after the date the change of control occurs or the remaining term of the applicable option.

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 our business in the United States, its territories and possessions and any foreign country in which we do business as of the date of termination of his employment. 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 October 1, 2014, and effective as of September 16, 2014, we entered into a two-year employment agreement with James Haran for him to serve as our Chief Financial Officer, referred to as the Haran Employment Agreement. Following the initial two-year term, the agreement automatically renewed for a one-year term and 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 the expiration of the then current term. Under the Haran Employment Agreement, Mr. Haran’s annual base salary was $340,500 during 2016. On April 26, 2017, Mr. Haran’s Employment Agreement was amended to increase Mr. Haran’s base salary to $366,000 per annum, effective April 1, 2017. The board of directors 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 receives a car allowance of $1,500 per month.

Bonus

Mr. Haran is eligible for a performance cash bonus of up to $30,000 based upon the following: 50% of the $30,000 cash bonus will be paid to Mr. Haran if we achieve at least 70% of our budgeted EBITDA and 100% of the $30,000 cash bonus will be paid to Mr. Haran if we achieve at least 90% of our budgeted EBITDA. In addition, provided Mr. Haran is employed in good standing each June 30^th, Mr. Haran shall be awarded a $30,000 cash bonus commending June 30, 2015 and paid to the Executive within 30 days of June 30^th of each year.

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 a lump sum payment 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 12 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. Upon a change of control, notwithstanding the vesting and exercisability schedule in any stock option or other grant agreement between Mr. Haran and us, all unvested stock options, shares of restricted stock and other equity awards granted by us to Mr. Haran pursuant to any such agreement shall immediately vest, and all such stock options shall become exercisable and remain exercisable for the lesser of 180 days after the date the change of control occurs or the remaining term of the applicable option.

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 our business in the United States, its territories and possessions and any foreign country in which we do business as of the date of termination of such employment. Also, during his employment and for a one-year period after the termination of his 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 Falco

On January 24, 2017, and effective as of January 1, 2017, we entered into a three-year employment agreement with Giuseppe Falco for him to serve as our Chief Merchant of the Company and Brand President, referred to as the Falco Employment Agreement. Following the initial three-year term, the agreement will be automatically renewed for an additional two-year period, unless either party gives written notice of intent to terminate at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the then current term. Under the Falco Employment Agreement, Mr. Falco’s base salary is $550,000, $625,000, and $700,000 per annum for the years ending December 31, 2017, and 2018, and 2019, respectively. Pursuant to Mr. Falco’s prior employment agreement, Mr. Falco’s annual base salary was $415,500 during 2016.

Under the Falco Employment Agreement, Mr. Falco was awarded an option to purchase 500,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. The option vests as to 100,000 shares on each of January 1, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, provided that Mr. Falco remains an employee of the Company or is otherwise providing services to the Company on such date, and expires as to each 100,000 shares on the five-year anniversary of the respective vesting date.

Bonus

Mr. Falco is eligible for a cash bonus of up to $450,000, $375,000, and $300,000 for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. The cash bonus for each respective fiscal year shall be payable at 50% of the maximum if we achieve at least 70% of our budgeted EBITDA (as defined in the Falco Employment Agreement) for such fiscal year, and at 100% of the maximum if we achieve at least 90% of our budgeted EBITDA for such fiscal year.

Pursuant to Mr. Falco’s prior Employment Agreement for 2016, Mr. Falco was eligible for a cash bonus of up to $75,000 based upon targets established by the Company’s Compensation Committee each year for (a) Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the prior Employment Agreement), (b) direct response television revenue and (c) other license revenues, (each a “Cash Bonus Target”). Mr. Falco may earn up to one-third ( 1/3) of the aggregate cash bonus with respect to each Cash Bonus Target.

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 a lump sum payment of an amount equal to his base salary in effect for a period of 6 months, payable on the 6 month anniversary of the date of separation of services and the option shall remain exercisable as to those shares as to which the option previously vested and shall become exercisable as to any unvested shares immediately following such transaction. Mr. Falco would also be entitled to continue to participate in our group medical plan, subject to certain conditions, for a period of 6 months from the termination date.

Change of Control

In the event Mr. Falco’s employment is terminated within 12 months following a change of control by the Company without cause or by Mr. Falco with good reason, Mr. Falco would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for 6 months following such termination. “Change of control,” as defined in Mr. Falco’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. Upon a change of control, notwithstanding the vesting and exercisability schedule in any stock option or other grant agreement between Mr. Falco and us, all unvested stock options, shares of restricted stock and other equity awards granted by us to Mr. Falco pursuant to any such agreement shall immediately vest, and all such stock options shall become exercisable and remain exercisable for the lesser of 180 days after the date the change of control occurs or the remaining term of the applicable option.

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. 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 we do business as of the date of termination of his employment. Also, during his employment and for a one-year 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.

The Employment Agreements with Executives detailed above provide for certain post-termination benefits. See “Payments Due Upon Termination of Employment or a Change in Control” below for more information.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding all cash and non-cash compensation earned, during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, by our principal executive officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers, which we refer to collectively as the named executive officers, for services in all capacities to the Company:

Name		Title				Year				Salary				Bonus(1)				Stock Awards(2)(4)(6)				Option Awards(3)(5)				All Other Compensation				Total
Robert D’Loren			CEO and Chairman				2016			$	832,733			$	939,583			$	641,062			$	1,317,898			$	7,954			$	3,739,230
							2015				836,160				637,672				2,205,000				—				8,745				3,687,577
James Haran			CFO				2016				340,500				60,000				137,367				282,395				6,238				826,500
							2015				340,500				90,000				472,500				—				3,467				906,467
Giuseppe Falco			President and COO				2016				415,600				75,000				—				298,093				—				788,693
							2015				415,600				62,000				450,000				—				—				927,600

Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2016

						Options and Warrant Awards																Stock Awards
Name		Title				Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options & Warrants, Exercisable				Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options & Warrants, Unexercisable				Exercise Price				Option or Warrant Expiration Date				Number of Shares of Stock that Have Not Vested				Market Value of Shares of Stock that Have Not Vested
Robert D’Loren			CEO, Chairman				239,250	(1)			—			$	5.00				9/29/2021
							—				884,220	(3)		$	5.80				3/31/2021
																							1,263,706	(4)		$	5,560,306
James Haran			CFO				49,500	(1)			—			$	5.00				9/29/2021
							—				189,468	(3)		$	5.80				3/31/2021
																							252,526	(5)		$	1,111,114
Giuseppe Falco			President, COO				100,000	(1)			—			$	5.00				9/29/2021
							50,000	(2)			—			$	7.00				5/31/2019
							—				200,000	(3)		$	5.80				3/31/2021
																							195,333	(6)		$	859,465

Payments Due Upon Termination of Employment or a Change in Control

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 a lump sum payment 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.

If the employment of Mr. Haran or Mr. Falco is terminated by us without cause, or if any such executive resigns with good reason, or if we fail to renew the term, then the executive will be entitled to receive his

unpaid base salary and cash bonuses through the termination date and a lump sum payment equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for 12 months. The executive 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. D’Loren’s employment is terminated within 12 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.

In the event the employment of Mr. Haran is terminated within 12 months following a change of control by the Company without cause or by the executive with good reason, the executive 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.

In the event Mr. Falco’s employment is terminated within 12 months following a change of control by the Company without cause or by the executive with good reason, the executive would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for six months following such termination.

“Change of control,” as defined in the executives’ employment agreements, 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. Upon a change of control, notwithstanding the vesting and exercisability schedule in any stock option or other grant agreement between the executive and us, all unvested stock options, shares of restricted stock and other equity awards granted by us to the executive pursuant to any such agreement shall immediately vest, and all such stock options shall become exercisable and remain exercisable for the lesser of 180 days after the date the change of control occurs or the remaining term of the applicable option.

The following table quantifies the estimated maximum amount of payments and benefits under our employment agreements with our executive officers relating to awards granted under our 2011 Plan and other equity award grants to which the executive officers would be entitled to upon termination of employment if we terminated their employment without cause or the executive terminated his employment with good reason, in either case, within 12 months following a “change of control” of our Company that (by assumption) occurred on December 31, 2016:

Name		Salary ($)				Value of the Accelerated Equity Awards [and Other Benefits] ($)(1)(2)				Total Termination Benefits ($)
Robert W. D’Loren		$	3,608,000			$	5,605,000			$	9,213,000
James F. Haran		$	341,000			$	1,141,000			$	1,482,000
Giuseppe “Joe” Falco		$	208,000			$	874,000			$	1,082,000

Risk Assessment in Compensation Policies and Practices for Employees

The Compensation Committee reviewed the elements of our compensation policies and practices for all of our employees, including our named executive officers, in order to evaluate whether risks that may arise from such compensation policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our Company. The Compensation Committee concluded that the following features of our compensation programs guard against excessive risk-taking:

The Compensation Committee believes that, for all of our employees, including our named executive officers, our compensation programs do not lead to excessive risk-taking and instead encourage behavior that supports sustainable value creation. We believe that risks that may arise from our compensation policies and practices for our employees, including our named executive officers, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our Company.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table lists, as of the Record Date, 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 named executive 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 dispose of or direct the disposition 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. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for such person is c/o Xcel Brands, Inc., 1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor, New York, New York 10018.

The percentages below are calculated based on 18,471,001 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of the Record Date. 

Name and Address		Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned				Percent Beneficially Owned
Named executive officers and directors:
Robert D’Loren(1)			8,827,430				44.68	%
James Haran(2)			561,864				3.02
Seth Burroughs(3)			461,088				2.48
Richard Kirschenbaum(4)			28,500					*
Howard Liebman(5)			87,865					*
Edward Jones, III(6)			183,216					*
Benjamin Malka(7)			163,500					*
Mark DiSanto(8)			1,498,876				8.05
Michael R. Francis(9)			103,500					*
Guiseppe Falco(10)			470,578				2.52
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons)(11)			12,184,892				59.94
5% Shareholders:
Isaac Mizrahi(12)			2,473,325				13.39
Buckingham Capital Management, Inc.(13)			1,830,947				9.79
485 Lexington Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10017
Hilco Trading, LLC(14)			2,316,667				11.98
5 Revere Drive, Suite 206, Northbrook, IL 60062
Burch Acquisition LLC(15)			1,000,000				5.35
840 First Avenue, Suite 200, King of Prussia, PA 19406

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Transactions with Related Persons

Edward Jones, III

On May 14, 2015, and amended on June 24, 2015, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with Jones Texas, Inc., (“JTI”) whose controlling shareholder is Edward Jones, a director of the Company. The agreement, as amended, provided for fees payable to JTI up to $75,000 for consulting services related to due diligence on the C Wonder brand prior to acquisition. The Company paid fees to JTI of $75,000 during the Prior Year.

During the Current Year, Edward Jones performed consulting services for and received compensation from a certain licensee of the Company (the “Licensee”). Under the terms of the Company’s agreement with the Licensee, the Licensee may supply the Company’s branded products to the Company’s other licensees. Under the terms of the Company’s separate pre-existing agreements with other licensees, the Company would earn royalties on the sales of such branded products sold to end customers. To date, the Company has not earned or received any fees or revenues related to the Company’s agreement with the Licensee, but may earn or receive such amounts in the future.

On January 31, 2017, the Company entered into a two-year consulting agreement with JTI, pursuant to which JTI shall cause Mr. Jones to provide consulting services in connection with the Company’s quick-time-response fashion program, assisting the Company with sourcing suppliers for its women’s apparel, and establishing and managing a men’s quick-time-response platform. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company issued to JTI (i) 78,334 shares of its common stock, vesting as to 39,167 shares on the date of the agreement and 39,167 of the shares on January 30, 2018 and (ii) paid to JTI an aggregate cash consulting fee of $150,000 in 2017; provided however, that (i) up to 25,000 shares of common stock shall be subject to forfeiture if the Company’s business with suppliers of women’s apparel is materially diminished.

Benjamin Malka

Concurrent with the acquisition of the H Halston Brand on December 22, 2014, the Company entered into a license agreement with The H Company IP, LLC (“HIP”), which was subsequently amended September 1, 2015. Benjamin Malka, a director of the Company, is a 25% equity holder of HIP’s parent company, House of Halston LLC (“HOH”), and Chief Executive Officer of HOH. The HIP license agreement provides for royalty payments including guaranteed minimum royalties to be paid to the Company during the initial term that expires on December 31, 2019.

On September 1, 2015 we entered into a license agreement with Lord and Taylor, LLC (the “L&T License”) and simultaneously amended the H Halston License Agreement eliminating HIP’s minimum guaranteed royalty obligations, provided the L&T License is in effect. In addition, we entered into a sublicense agreement with HIP obligating us to pay HIP on an annual basis the greater of (i) 50% of royalties received under the L&T License from H Halston products or (ii) guaranteed minimum royalties. Provided that Lord & Taylor is paying the Company at least $1,000,000 per quarter under the L&T License, the remaining contractually guaranteed minimum royalties are equal to $0.75 million, $0.75 million, $1.5 million and $1.75 million for the twelve months ending January 31, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Royalties paid to HIP by the Company or on the Company’s behalf for the seventeen months ended January 31, 2017 were $0.19 million.

HOH has also entered into an arrangement with another licensee of the Company to supply Halston-branded apparel for the subsequent sale of such product to end customers. Under the Company’s separate pre-existing licensing agreements in place with the aforementioned other licensee and with HIP as described above, the Company earns royalties on the sales of such Halston-branded products.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management is responsible for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, CohnReznick LLP, is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements included with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 with our management team. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with our independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by as Auditing Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”). The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from our independent accountant required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding our independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with our independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence. Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 which was filed with the SEC on March 24, 2017.

The information contained in this Audit Committee report is not “soliciting material” and has not been “filed” with the SEC. This report will not be incorporated by reference into any of our future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that we may specifically incorporate it by reference into a future filing.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed or to be billed for professional services rendered by our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, CohnReznick LLP, for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, review of our consolidated financial statements included in our quarterly reports and other services that are normally provided by the accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $284,000 and $263,000, respectively.

Audit-Related Fees

There were $0 and $10,000 of fees billed for audit-related services by our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Tax Fees

There were no fees billed for professional services rendered by our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

All Other Fees

There were no fees billed for services by our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for non-audit services for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Audit Committee Determination

The Audit Committee considered and determined that the services performed are compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditor

The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm as outlined in its Audit Committee Charter. Prior to engagement of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for each year’s audit, management or the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm submits to the Audit Committee for approval an aggregate request of services expected to be rendered during the year, which the Audit Committee pre-approves. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval. In those circumstances, the Audit Committee requires specific pre-approval before engaging the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The engagements of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, CohnReznick LLP were approved by the Company’s Audit Committee.

PROPOSAL II

TO FURTHER AMEND AND RESTATE OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO INCREASE OUT AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK

The Board has adopted a resolution approving, and recommends to the stockholders for their approval, a proposed further amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “New Certificate of Incorporation”) to authorize the Board, in its discretion, to increase our authorized shares of capital stock from 36,000,000 to 51,000,000 shares and our authorized shares of Common Stock from 35,000,000 shares to 50,000,000 shares (the “Share Increase”).

Purpose and Effects of the Amendment

Of the 35,000,000 shares of Common Stock currently authorized, as of the Record Date, 18,471,001 shares have been issued and are outstanding, approximately 5,049,743 shares have been reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants, and approximately 5,579,822 shares are available for grant under the Company’s existing incentive equity plan. The Company, therefore, has approximately 5,899,434 shares of unreserved Common Stock available for future issuance.

The Board considers the increase in authorized shares of Common Stock necessary in order to provide flexibility for potential acquisitions, capital raising and future capital requirements and for use in employee benefit plans. The Company intends to seek to continue to acquire additional brands and otherwise expand its operations which will require additional capital. Such expansion may be accomplished through acquisitions for which the Company may choose to issue equity securities as all or a portion of the purchase price of the acquisition. In addition, the Company may seek to raise additional capital in the future through the issuance of equity securities, such as Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock. Although the Company continuously evaluates potential acquisition candidates, the Company does not, at this time, have any plans, commitments or understandings with respect to any acquisitions nor does it have any plans or commitments or understandings with respect to any equity financing. Approval by the stockholders of the increase in authorized shares of Common Stock at the Annual Meeting will avoid the need to call and hold additional special meetings for this purpose, thereby enabling the Company to act quickly when potential acquisition or financing transactions arise.

Once authorized, the additional shares of Common Stock may be issued with approval of the Board but without further approval of the stockholders unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law, rule or regulation. Accordingly, this solicitation may be the only opportunity for stockholders to approve these financings, acquisitions, benefit plans and other corporate transactions. A copy of the New Certificate of Incorporation is attached as Annex A.

This proposal could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover effect. For example, if the Company were the subject of a hostile takeover attempt, it could try to impede the takeover by issuing shares of Common Stock, thereby diluting the voting power of the other outstanding shares and increasing the potential cost of the takeover. The Board is not aware of any attempt or plan to acquire control of the Company.

Effective Date

If the proposed Share Increase is approved at the Annual Meeting, the New Certificate of Incorporation would become effective when the filing of the further amendment and restatement of the Certificate of Incorporation is accepted and recorded by the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

APPROVAL REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDATION

The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on this proposal is required to approve the further amendment and restatement of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of authorized common stock. Abstentions have the same effect as negative votes on such proposal. This proposal to approve the further amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of authorized common stock is considered a routine matter and, as such, your broker may vote your shares without receiving your voting instructions.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE FURTHER AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT TO OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT THE SHARE INCREASE.

PROPOSAL III

TO RATIFY THE
APPOINTMENT OF COHNREZNICK LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2017

CohnReznick LLP has audited and reported upon the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. The Audit Committee of the Board has re-appointed CohnReznick LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, and the Board is asking stockholders to ratify that selection. Although current law, rules, and regulations, as well as the Audit Committee Charter, require the Audit Committee to engage, retain, and supervise the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Board considers the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm to be an important matter of stockholder concern and is submitting the selection of CohnReznick LLP for ratification by stockholders as a matter of good corporate practice.

The Audit Committee reserves the right, even after ratification by stockholders, to change the appointment of CohnReznick LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm, at any time during the 2017 fiscal year, if it deems such change to be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. If the stockholders do not ratify the selection of CohnReznick LLP, the Audit Committee will review the Company’s relationship with CohnReznick LLP and take such action as it deems appropriate, which may include continuing to retain CohnReznick LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

A representative of CohnReznick LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF COHNREZNICK LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2018 ANNUAL MEETING

Stockholders who wish to present proposals appropriate for consideration at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in the year 2018 must submit a notice containing the proposal in proper form consistent with our By-Laws, addressed to the attention of our Secretary at our address set forth on the first page of this proxy statement and in accordance with applicable regulations under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, received by us no later than 120 days before the date of the proxy statement plus one year in order for the proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to such annual meeting.

If a stockholder submits a proposal after May 23, 2018 deadline required under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act but still wishes to present the proposal at our annual meeting of stockholders (but not in our proxy statement) to be held in 2018, the proposal, which must be presented in a manner consistent with our By-Laws and applicable law, must be delivered personally to, or be mailed to and received by, the Secretary of the Company, at the principal executive offices of the Company, no earlier than the close of business on the 120^th calendar day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90^th calendar day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is made or given to stockholders less than 100 calendar days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10^th calendar day following the earlier of (i) the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed to stockholders or (ii) the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Company.

Each Stockholder Meeting Notice shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (i) a description of each item of business proposed to be brought before the meeting (including the text of the proposal or business and the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; (ii) the name and record address, as they appear on the Company’s books, of the stockholder proposing to bring such item of business before the meeting and the name and address of all Stockholder Associated Persons, (iii) (A) the class and series and number of shares of each class and series of capital stock of the Company which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and/or of record by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, documentary evidence of such record or beneficial ownership, and the date or dates such shares were acquired and the investment intent at the time such shares were acquired, (B) any derivative instrument directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other direct or indirect right held by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person to profit from, or share in any profit derived from, any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any securities of the Company, (D) any short interest indirectly or directly held by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in any security issued by the Company, (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Company owned beneficially by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying securities of the Company, (F) any proportionate interest in securities of the Company or derivative instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of securities of the Company or derivative instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information, in each case, shall be supplemented by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person not later than ten (10) calendar days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date); (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and/or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; (v) any material interest of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in such business, individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person therefrom; (vi) a representation from such stockholder as to whether the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends (1) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of

at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (2) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal; (vii) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, that such stockholder intends to vote such stock at such meeting, and that such stockholder intends to appear at the meeting in person or by proxy to bring such business before such meeting; (viii) whether and the extent to which any agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of the Company, without regard to whether such transaction is required to be reported on a Schedule 13D or other form in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provisions thereto and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (ix) in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these By-Laws, the complete text of the proposed amendment; and (x) such other information regarding each matter of business to be proposed by such stockholder, regarding the stockholder in his or her capacity as a proponent of a stockholder proposal, or regarding any Stockholder Associated Person, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made with the SEC in connection with the solicitations of proxies for such business pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (or pursuant to any law or statute replacing such section) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

OTHER INFORMATION

Proxies for the Annual Meeting will be solicited by mail and through brokerage institutions and all expenses involved, including printing and postage, will be paid by the Company.

A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 IS BEING FURNISHED HEREWITH TO EACH STOCKHOLDER OF RECORD AS OF THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2017. COPIES OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, AND ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE FORM 10-K, WITHOUT EXHIBITS, WILL BE PROVIDED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. EXHIBITS TO THE FORM 10-K WILL BE PROVIDED FOR A NOMINAL CHARGE. A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR THE FORM 10-K SHOULD BE MADE TO: 

XCEL BRANDS, INC.
1333 BROADWAY, 10^th FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10018
ATTENTION: SECRETARY

By order of the Board of Directors,
 
/s/ Robert W. D’Loren

Robert W. D’Loren
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Chief Executive Officer and President

September 18, 2017 

Annex A

XCEL BRANDS, INC.
 
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

The original Certificate of Incorporation of Xcel Brands, Inc. (the “Corporation”) was filed by the Secretary of State on August 31, 1989 (the “Original Certificate”) and the name under which the Corporation was originally incorporated is Houston Operating Company. The Original Certificate was further amended on December 1, 2011 and amended and restated on November 6, 2014. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which further amends and restates the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended to date, was duly adopted by the written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon in accordance with the provisions of Sections 141, 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

FIRST:  The name of the Corporation is:

XCEL BRANDS, INC.

SECOND:  The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

THIRD:  The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the laws of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

FOURTH:  The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Fifty One Million (51,000,000) shares, of which Fifty Million (50,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, and One Million (1,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share.

The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is hereby expressly authorized to provide, by resolution or resolutions duly adopted by it prior to issuance, for the creation of each such series and to fix the designation and the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions relating to the shares of each such series. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, determining the following:

1. the designation of such series, the number of shares to constitute such series and the stated value if different from the par value thereof;

2. whether the shares of such series shall have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights, which may be general or limited;

3. the dividends, if any, payable on such series, whether any such dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from what dates, the conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, and the preference or relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any shares of stock of any other class or any other series of Preferred Stock;

4. whether the shares of such series shall be subject to redemption by the Corporation, and, if so, the times, prices and other conditions of such redemption;

5. the amount or amounts payable upon shares of such series upon, and the rights of the holders of such series in, the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or upon any distribution of the assets, of the Corporation;

6. whether the shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a retirement or sinking fund and, if so, the extent to and manner in which any such retirement or sinking fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series for retirement or other corporate purposes and the terms and provisions relating to the operation thereof;

7. whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of stock of any other class or any other series of Preferred Stock or any other securities and, if so, the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same, and any other terms and conditions of conversion or exchange;

8. the limitations and restrictions, if any, to be effective while any shares of such series are outstanding upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and upon the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Corporation of, the Common Stock or shares of stock of any other class or any other series of Preferred Stock;

9. the conditions or restrictions, if any, upon the creation of indebtedness of the Corporation or upon the issue of any additional stock, including additional shares of such series or of any other series of Preferred Stock or of any other class; and

10. any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions, thereof.

The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. All shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects with all other shares of such series, except that shares of any one series issued at different times may differ as to the dates from which dividends thereof shall be cumulative.

FIFTH:  Unless required by law or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote by stockholders on any matter, including the election of directors, need not be by written ballot.

SIXTH:  The Corporation reserves the right to increase or decrease its authorized capital stock, or any class or series thereof, and to reclassify the same, and to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in the Certificate of Incorporation under which the Corporation is organized or in any amendment thereto, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law, and all rights conferred upon stockholders in said Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereto are granted subject to the aforementioned reservation.

SEVENTH:  The Board of Directors shall have the power at any time, and from time to time, to adopt, amend and repeal any and all By-laws of the Corporation.

EIGHTH: 1. Indemnification

The Corporation shall, and does hereby, indemnify to the fullest extent permitted or authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law or judicial or administrative decisions, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted differently in the future (but, in the case of any such amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such amendment or interpretation permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), each person (including the current and future heirs, beneficiaries, personal representatives and estate of such person) who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, or was or is a witness, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) and whether the basis of such Proceeding is an allegation of an action in an official capacity of such person related to the Corporation or any other capacity while such person is serving as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation, against any liability (which for purposes of this Article shall include any judgment, settlement, penalty or fine) or cost, charge or expense (including attorneys’ fees) asserted against him or incurred by him by reason of the fact that such indemnified person (1) is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation or (2) is or was an agent of the Corporation as to whom the Corporation, by action of its Board of Directors, has agreed to grant such indemnity or (3) is or was serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including serving as a fiduciary of any employee benefit plan) or (4) is or was serving as an agent of such other corporation,

partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise described in clause (3) hereof as to whom the Corporation, by action of its Board of Directors, has agreed to grant such indemnity. Each director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to whom indemnification rights under this Section 1 of this Article have been granted shall be referred to as an “Indemnified Person.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as specified in Section 3 of this Article, the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify an Indemnified Person in connection with a Proceeding (or any part thereof) initiated by such Indemnified Person unless such authorization for such Proceeding (or any part thereof) was not denied by the Board of Directors of the Corporation prior to sixty (60) days after receipt of notice thereof from such Indemnified Person stating his intent to initiate such Proceeding and only upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate.

2. Advance of Costs, Charges and Expenses

Costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer, director, employee or agent who is an Indemnified Person in defending a Proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted or authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law or judicial or administrative decisions, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted differently in the future (but, in the case of any such future amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such amendment or interpretation permits the Corporation to provide broader rights to advance costs, charges and expenses than permitted prior thereto), in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to repay all amounts so advanced in the event that it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article and upon such other terms and conditions, in the case of an agent as to whom the Corporation has agreed to grant such indemnity, as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate. The Corporation may, upon approval of the Indemnified Person, authorize the Corporation’s counsel to represent such person in any Proceeding, whether or not the Corporation is a party to such Proceeding. Such authorization may be made by the Board of Directors by majority vote, including directors who are parties to such Proceeding.

3. Procedure for Indemnification

Any indemnification or advance under this Article shall be made promptly and in any event within sixty (60) days upon the written request of the Indemnified Person (except in the case of a claim for an advancement of costs, charges or expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days). The right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article shall be enforceable by the Indemnified Person in any court of competent jurisdiction if the Corporation denies such request under this Article, in whole or in part, or if no disposition thereof is made within sixty (60) days or twenty (20) days, as may be applicable. Such Indemnified Person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his right to indemnification or advancement of costs, charges or expenses, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation. It shall be a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the standard of conduct, if any, required by the Delaware General Corporation Law or judicial or administrative decisions, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted differently in the future (but, in the case of any such future amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such amendment or interpretation does not impose a more stringent standard of conduct than permitted prior thereto), but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, its independent legal counsel, and its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant or advancement for the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct, if any, nor the fact that there has been an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, its independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

4. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Indemnification

The indemnification and advancement provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those Indemnified Persons may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or recommendation of counsel or otherwise, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and as to actions in any other capacity while holding such office or position, and shall continue as to an Indemnified Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, beneficiaries, personal representatives and the estate of such person. All rights to indemnification and advancement under this Article shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Indemnified Person who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this Article is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this Article or any repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law or any other applicable laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification of such Indemnified Person, or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder, for claims relating to matters occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

5. Insurance

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including serving as a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan) against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article or the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

6. Savings Clause

If this Article or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance costs to each Indemnified Person as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any Proceeding, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article that shall not have been invalidated and as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

NINTH:  No director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for any monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No repeal or amendment of this Article shall adversely affect any rights of any person pursuant to this Article Ninth which existed at the time of such repeal or amendment with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or amendment.

TENTH:  The number of directors comprising the Board of Directors shall be such number as may be from time to time fixed by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if a majority of the votes cast are in favor of such nominee’s election; provided, however, that, if the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares represented in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders held to elect directors and entitled to vote on such election of directors. Each director who is serving as a director on the date of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders after such date and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, notwithstanding that such director may have been elected for a term that extended beyond the date of such next annual meeting of stockholders. At each annual meeting of stockholders after the date of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, directors elected at such annual meeting shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders. In the interim between annual meetings of stockholders or of special meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors and/or for the removal

of one or more directors and for the filling of any vacancy in that connection, newly created directorships and any vacancies in the Board of Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of directors for cause or without cause, resignation, death, disqualification or other causes shall be filled for the remainder of the full term of the directors in which the new directorship is created or the vacancy occurred and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier removal, only by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation this [•] day of October, 2017. 

XCEL BRANDS, INC.

By:

Name: James F. Haran

6 FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE 6

PROXY

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BELOW. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THOSE NOMINEES AND THE PROPOSALS LISTED BELOW. DISCRETIONARY VOTING IS HEREBY CONFERRED AS TO CERTAIN MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT.

Please mark your votes like this  ■

1. Election of Directors:
o FOR all nominees listed below (except as indicated to the contrary below)		o WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below
NOMINEES:    01 Robert W. D’Loren, 02 Mark DiSanto, 03 Michael R. Francis, 04 Benjamin Malka, 05 Richard Kirschenbaum and 06 Howard Liebman     (INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee’s name in the space below)

2. To approve a further amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.    o FOR    o AGAINST    o ABSTAIN
3. To ratify the appointment of CohnReznick LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.    o FOR    o AGAINST    o ABSTAIN
4. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof.

  

COMPANY ID:
 
PROXY NUMBER:
 
ACCOUNT NUMBER:

Signature _________________  Signature if held jointly __________________  Date ____________, 2017.

Note: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on October 23, 2017. 

The Proxy Statement, the form of proxy and the Company’s and Annual Report to Stockholders are available at www.xcelbrands.com/annuals-proxies.cfm.

6 FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE 6

XCel Brands, Inc.
1333 Broadway, 10^th Floor
New York, NY 10018

PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD OCTOBER 23, 2017 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

The undersigned hereby appoints ROBERT W. D’LOREN and JAMES F. HARAN, and each of them, Proxies, with full power of substitution in each of them, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of XCel Brands, Inc. on Monday, October 23, 2017, at 10:00 AM or at any postponements or adjournments thereof, according to the number of votes that the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present, upon the following matters on the reverse side. 

(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)