XCel Brands, Inc. - Annual Report: 2012 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

 (Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF

 1934

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2012

Commission File Number: 0-21419

OR

¨  TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT

OF 1934

XCEL BRANDS, INC.

 (Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

(347) 727-2474

(Issuer's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨     No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes ¨     No x

Check whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ¨   No x

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently computed second fiscal quarter. $11,902,137 based upon the average bid and asked price of such common stock on June 29, 2012.

The number of shares of the issuer’s common stock issued and outstanding as of March 15, 2013 was 7,339,979 shares.

Documents Incorporated By Reference: None

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties, principally in the sections entitled “Description of Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”  All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including statements regarding future events, our future financial performance, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.  We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “appears,” “suggests,” “future,” “likely,” “goal,” “plans,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “should,” “would,”, “guidance,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.  Although we do not make forward-looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.  These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment.  New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors, nor can we address the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, each of which applies only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price.  Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to conform our statements to actual results or changed expectations.

Item 1. Business

Corporate Background

Xcel Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on August 31, 1989 in the State of Delaware under the name Houston Operating Company. On April 19, 2005, we changed our name to NetFabric Holdings, Inc. and on September 29, 2011 we changed our name to Xcel Brands, Inc. On September 29, 2011 Xcel Brands, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation (“Old XCel”), Netfabric Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Acquisition Corp.”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and certain stockholders of the Company entered into an Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Acquisition Corp. was merged with and into Old XCel, with Old XCel surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). 

Also in connection with the Merger and related transactions, the Company acquired (i) the “Isaac Mizrahi” brands (including the trademarks and brands “Isaac Mizrahi New York”, “Isaac Mizrahi” and “IsaacMizrahiLIVE”) (collectively, the “IM Trademarks”), (ii) the license agreements related to the IM Trademarks including a license agreement with QVC, Inc. (“QVC”) (the “QVC Agreement”), (iii) design agreements with Fifth and Pacific Companies, Inc, formerly known as Liz Claiborne, Inc. (“FNP”) (the “LCNY Agreement”) and QVC (the “Design Agreement”) to design the “Liz Claiborne New York” brand for sale exclusively at QVC and (iv) computers, design software, and other assets related to the licensing and design of the IM Trademarks and the design of the Liz Claiborne New York brand (together with the IM Trademarks, the QVC Agreement, the LCNY Agreement, the Design Agreement, the “Isaac Mizrahi Business”). 

Overview of the Business

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

Licensing Business

Our licensing activities focus on three primary businesses: (i) licensing the “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” brand for distribution through Direct-Response Television (i.e. QVC); (ii) licensing the Isaac Mizrahi Brands (excluding the IsaacMizrahiLIVE brand) to wholesale manufacturers, sourcing and design companies, and retailers for promotion and distribution through the internet and traditional bricks-and-mortar retail channels, and (iii) managing and promoting the LCNY Brand for distribution through Direct-Response Television (i.e. QVC). By licensing the Isaac Mizrahi Brands across Direct-Response Television, the internet, and traditional bricks-and-mortar retail channels, we pursue an “Omnichannel” retail sales strategy for the brand by which we are able to reach our customers and promote sales through all channels of distribution.

In connection with such licensing activities, we provide design support to licensees of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands and LCNY Brand where required and coordinate merchandising and sales efforts between our various licensees in each case where appropriate. We also conduct traditional marketing, advertising, public relations, and social media marketing campaigns for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, and coordinate such activities with our licensees.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

At the time of the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the QVC Agreement generated more than half of the Company’s total revenues.  For the year ended December 31, 2012 and the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011, the QVC Agreement accounted for 59% and 67% of the total revenues of the Company, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2011, that includes the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 (the “Successor Prior Year Period”) and the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 (the “Predecessor Prior Year Period”), the QVC Agreement accounted for 59% of revenues on an unaudited pro-forma basis.

Bricks-and-Mortar Licensing Agreements.  As of December 31, 2012, the Company had entered into over 40 additional licensing agreements related to the Isaac Mizrahi Brands for sales and distribution through the internet and traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers (the “Bricks-and-Mortar Licenses”) in various categories, including but not limited to Womens’ Footwear, Accessories, Apparel, Outerwear, and Bridal Gowns; Fragrance, Bath and Body; Jewelry; Home Products; Mens’ Apparel and Accessories; Childrens’ and Infant Apparel, Footwear and Accessories; and Electronics Cases and Accessories. The terms of the agreements generally range from three to six years with renewal options. Revenue from the Bricks-and-Mortar Licenses represented approximately 11% and 10% of the Company’s total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011, respectively.

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

The Company’s licensees currently and/or plan to sell licensed products through bricks-and-mortar retailers, internet websites, and in certain cases will supply products to QVC for sale through its Direct-Response Television programs and/or through its internet website as a supplier under the QVC Agreement. Based upon the time required to design, market, and produce products for sale through these distribution channels, there were a limited number of licensees who initiated sales of licensed products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands in 2012, primarily in the Fall 2012 season. However, based upon guaranteed minimum royalties required under many of the license agreements, the Company is able to recognize revenue related to the Bricks-and-Mortar Licenses prior to the sale of licensed products. As licensees who have started to sell licensed products continue to grow their sales, and sales of licensed products commence in new categories in 2013 and future years, the Company expects that its revenue from its Bricks-and-Mortar Licenses will transition from being based on its guaranteed minimum royalties to being based on actual sales of licensed products by its licensees. The Company also intends to enter into distribution agreements and/or licensing agreements with international partners through which its licensees can sell products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands internationally.

LCNY Agreement.   Pursuant to the LCNY Agreement, the Company provides certain promotional services related to the LCNY Brand, rights to use Isaac Mizrahi name as creative director for the LCNY Brand, and design services to FNP for the LCNY Brand, which is sold exclusively through QVC. For the year ended December 31, 2011, that includes the Successor Prior Year Period and the Predecessor Prior Year Period, the LCNY Agreement accounted for 9% of revenues on an unaudited pro-forma basis.

Pursuant to the LCNY Agreement, Isaac Mizrahi or another spokesperson agreeable to the Company, QVC and FNP (any such person, the “Designer”), must be made available to act as creative director for the LCNY Brand and for print or other media campaigns (Isaac Mizrahi does not currently promote the products or line, but QVC and FNP may require that a Designer promote the products on QVC in the future).  As creative director, the Designer works with and directs a design staff employed by the Company, for which design services the Company is compensated under a separate agreement with QVC. The initial term of the LCNY Agreement lasts until July 31, 2013, after which the LCNY Agreement automatically renews for an initial renewal term through July 31, 2016 (the “Initial Renewal Term”), followed by four one-year renewal terms unless otherwise terminated by QVC. 

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

In consideration for the promotional and creative services, the rights to the designs created by the Company for the LCNY Brand, and all other rights provided by the Company to FNP pursuant to the LCNY Agreement, FNP is obligated to pay to the Company a percentage of the royalty revenues FNP receives from QVC (pursuant to a separate license agreement by and between FNP and QVC) for sale of products under the LCNY Brand through QVC-owned, -operated and -branded Direct-Response Television programs, website and retail stores, with the percentage equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of such royalties prior to July 31, 2013, and fifty percent (50%) of such royalties following July 31, 2013.  In the event that FNP uses the design and technical specifications of products for merchandise that is sold by FNP to international customers or through its own retail stores, the Company is entitled to additional royalty fees with respect to such merchandise to be agreed with FNP.  In addition to compensation to be paid by FNP to the Company as described above, FNP is also obligated to pay to the Company twenty-five percent (25%) of the royalty revenues FNP receives from Elizabeth Arden during the term of the LCNY Agreement for fragrance products bearing the LCNY Brand.  Finally, if FNP enters into any new licenses with respect to the LCNY Brand during the term of the LCNY Agreement, FNP has agreed to pay to the Company 25% of the royalty revenues FNP receives from such new licenses. For the year ended December 31, 2012 and the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011, the LCNY Agreement accounted for 13% and 9% of the Company’s total revenues, respectively.   

Design and Promotional Services

The Company provides design and other services to certain of its licensees, and in some cases, to select brands owned by third parties. In particular, the Company provides full design services to QVC for products sold under both the QVC Agreement and LCNY Agreement, including seasonal design guidance, product development and merchandising, product design and sample review and approvals through its in-house design organization, and provides limited design services to its Bricks-and-Mortar Licenses which may include seasonal design guidance (such as style guides) and/or print and pattern development, for which certain of our licensees pay us fixed fees for such services as determined in their agreement. In general with the exception of the QVC Agreement and LCNY Agreement, the design of products under our Bricks-and-Mortar Licenses is expected to be completed by the licensees. The Company may also provide design services to other companies and/or brands in the future.

In certain cases, the Company provides promotional services to other brands or companies, which may include the use of Isaac Mizrahi or the Isaac Mizrahi Brands for the promotion of such company or brands through the internet, television, or other digital content, print media or other marketing campaigns featuring, in-person appearances by Mr. Mizrahi, the development of limited collections of products (which may include co-branded products) for such company, or other services as determined on a case-by-case basis.

In order to provide the design services for the Isaac Mizrahi Business and under the LCNY Agreement, the Company employs a design team.  The Company may consider appropriate opportunities to leverage its resources to provide design services or other resources to selected brands that are not owned by the Company in the future.

Retail Stores

The Company may open and operate its own retail stores. This would provide the Company with a platform to present a common brand point of view for the Isaac Mizrahi brand. We would expect a retail store division to increase revenues and profitability.

Future Brands

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

Marketing

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

Given the Company’s Omnichannel retail sales strategy focusing on the sale of branded products through various distribution channels (including internet, Direct-Response Television, and traditional bricks-and-mortar Sales Channels, our marketing efforts currently focus on social media campaigns, appearances, and digital content in order to drive retail sales of product and consumer awareness across our various sales distribution channels. As such, our marketing is currently conducted primarily through (i) Twitter campaigns, (ii) Facebook campaigns, and (iii) blogs, videos, images (i.e. Instagram, Pinterest) and other internet content that are all updated regularly. Our efforts also include promoting Isaac Mizrahi as a brand and personality through various media including television (Project Runway All-Stars, Live with Kelly), design for performances, and other events. We also work with QVC to leverage QVC’s internet resources including discussion boards, Facebook and Twitter campaigns, and QVC’s website. In order to drive smartphone and tablet sales of IsaacMizrahiLIVE products, QVC has developed an application for the I-Phone and I-Pad to enable customers to browse and purchase products under the IsaacMizrahiLIVE brand, and we have entered into a partnership with and developed a smartphone application in collaboration with Aurasma through which we offer customers an augmented reality experience and the ability to access content that we develop related to the Isaac Mizrahi Brands.

Many of our licensees make an advertising and marketing contribution to IM Brands under their license agreements, and will use such monies to paymarketing-related expenses and further promote the Isaac Mizrahi Brands as we deem appropriate. Certain of the Bricks-and-Mortar Licenses may have requirements to, or such licensees may elect to, provide advertising or marketing for the IM Trademarks under their license agreements with IM Brands. If we acquire additional brands, we would seek to expand our marketing efforts to address the specific needs of such acquired brands.

Competition

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

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

Because the Company entered into the brand ownership, marketing, licensing and design business in 2011, and because many of its competitors have significantly more cash and revenues than it, the Company must work to differentiate itself from its direct and indirect competitors and successfully compete for market share with the brands it owns and for future acquisitions.  The Company believes that its management team (including its managers’ and directors’ historical track records and relationships within the industry) as well as its operating strategy of licensing brands with significant media presence in its Omnichannel retail sales strategy across Direct-Response Television, bricks-and-mortar and internet retail channels will help differentiate itself in an increasingly crowded competitive landscape.

Trademarks

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

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

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

Employees

As of December 31, 2012, we had 34 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee. 

Government Regulation

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

Item 1A.        Risk Factors

In addition to the other information contained herein or incorporated herein by reference, the risks and uncertainties and other factors described below could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and share price and could also cause our future business, financial condition and results of operations to differ materially from the results contemplated by any forward-looking statement we may make herein, in any other document we file with the SEC, or in any press release or other written or oral statement we may make. Please also see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" for additional risks and uncertainties applicable to us.

Risks Related to Our Business

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

As of December 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.9 million.  Although we believe that our existing cash and our anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to sustain our operations, at our current expense levels, for at least the following 12 months, we may require significant additional cash to expand our operations or acquire additional brands.  Our inability to finance our growth, either internally or externally, may limit our growth potential and our ability to execute our business strategy. If we issue securities to raise capital to finance operations and/or pay down debt, our existing stockholders may experience dilution or the new securities may have rights senior to those of our Common Stock.

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

Although the Isaac Mizrahi brand name has been an established brand for over 20 years, the QVC Agreement and LCNY Agreement relate to businesses at QVC that have been operating only since December 2009, and the Isaac Mizrahi Business was run by Isaac Mizrahi, our Chief Designer, and Marisa Gardini, our Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning prior to our acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Brands on September 29, 2011. Certain other members of our management performed consulting services for IM Ready, but were not responsible for its operations.   In addition, we have entered into additional licenses for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, many such licensees have not yet sold licensed products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands or have only started selling licensed products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands in 2012.  Accordingly, the operating results of the Isaac Mizrahi Business are not necessarily indicative of the future and you should not place undue reliance on the Isaac Mizrahi Business’s past performance.

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

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

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

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

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

We entered into a five-year senior secured term facility (the “Loan”) with MidMarket pursuant to which we incurred $13.5 million principal amount of senior secured term debt.  In addition, we issued to IM Ready a note in the principal amount of $7,377,432, subject to adjustment as set forth herein (the “Seller Note”) and our ability to pay the Seller Note in shares of our common stock, and have a contingent obligation of $2.8 million that is likely to be owed to IM Ready in September 2014 payable in cash or shares of our common stock.  The Company may also assume or incur additional debt, including secured debt, in the future in connection with, or to fund, future acquisitions, subject to limited exceptions.  The Loan also requires us to repay the principal loan balance from net cash proceeds received by the Company, IM Brands or any subsidiary in excess of $1,000,000 from the sale of equity securities to the extent such proceeds are not used to fund the purchase price, costs or expenses of a potential acquisition. Our debt obligations:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If our competition for licenses increases, or any of our current licensees elect not to renew their licenses or renew on term less favorable than today, our growth plans could be slowed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The initial term of the QVC Agreement expires on September 30, 2015, with automatic one-year renewal periods unless terminated by either party.  The current term of the Design Agreement, which was renewed on January 28, 2013, expires on July 31, 2016 and provides for four one-year renewal periods.  There can be no assurance that the agreements will be renewed upon expiration of the current terms, that the minimum sales thresholds will be met or that QVC will not terminate our licensing agreement or its agreement with FNP for non-performance.

While our business with QVC has seen growth since the Isaac MizrahiLive and LCNY brands were launched in 2009 and 2010, respectively, there is no guarantee that they will continue to grow in the future. Additionally, while we have entered into additional bricks-and-mortar license agreements for the Isaac Mizrahi Brands in order to diversify and grow our revenues, there are no guarantees that our new bricks-and-mortar licensees will be able to generate sales of products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands or grow their existing sales of products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brands, and if they do generate sales, there is no guarantee that they will not cause a decline in sales of product being sold through QVC.

The QVC Agreement restricts us from selling Isaac Mizrahi branded product with certain retailers, which provides QVC with a right to terminate the QVC Agreement if we breach this provision.

Although all of our bricks-and-mortar license agreements prohibit the sale of Isaac Mizrahi branded product to these restricted retailers, one or more of our bricks-and-mortar licensees could sell to a restricted retailer, putting us in breach with QVC and exposing us to termination by QVC. A breach by QVC could result in QVC seeking monetary damages, seeking an injunction against us and our bricks-and-mortar licensees and/or terminate the QVC Agreement that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s net income and cash flows.

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

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

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

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

The termination of agreements related to design and other services would decrease our expected revenues and cash flows.  

The Company provides design and other services for fixed or agreed upon fees. If the Company fails to perform these services or if these service agreements were terminated or not renewed, our expected revenues and cash flows would decrease.  

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

We currently have the LCNY Agreement in place with FNP, pursuant to which Isaac Mizrahi designs the LCNY Brand line to be sold on QVC in exchange for the Company receiving a percentage of the royalties that FNP receives from QVC under a separate license agreement between FNP and QVC (the LCNY Agreement). The LCNY Agreement is co-terminous with the license agreement between FNP and QVC, which has an initial term through July 31, 2016. There is no guarantee that FNP or QVC will renew the agreement past the Initial Renewal Term, which would impair our revenues and cash flows. Additionally, FNP has the right at its option to terminate the LCNY Agreement with us if the services of Isaac Mizrahi as designer for LCNY Brand products are no longer available to FNP and we do not agree upon a replacement designer. Although we have entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Mizrahi, there can be no assurance that if his services are required by FNP he will provide such services or that in the event we, and thus QVC, were to lose the ability to draw on such services, FNP would continue its design agreement with us. The loss of the LCNY Agreement would significantly decrease our expected revenues and cash flows until we were able to enter into one or more replacement agreements.

Intangible assets, including our trademarks and goodwill represent a substantial portion of our assets. As a result of changes in market conditions and declines in the estimated fair value of these assets, we may, in the future, be required to write down a portion of our intangible assets and such write-down would, as applicable, either decrease our net income or increase our net loss.

Trademarks represent a significant portion of our assets. Under accounting standards generally accepted in the United States of America, indefinite lived intangible assets, including our trademarks, are not amortized, but must be tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate the asset may be impaired. The estimated useful life of an intangible asset must be evaluated each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life. Any write-down of intangible assets resulting from future periodic evaluations would, as applicable, either decrease our net income or increase our net loss and those decreases or increases could be material.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We have an ever-growing reliance on technology including web-based information, proprietary data storage and normal business operations, which creates increased risk for us to ensure these systems remain uncompromised.

As threats of cyber-attacks expand across industries, and given the potential material impact on operations, the security of these digital technologies from internal and external threat could disrupt services and lead to misusage and “leakage” that could lead to significant capital outlays.

RISKS RELATED TO AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES

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

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

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

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we are required to include in our Annual Report on Form 10-K our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. We have dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to ensure compliance with this legislation for the year ended December 31, 2012 and will continue to do so for future fiscal periods. Although we believe that we currently have adequate internal control procedures in place, we cannot be certain that future material changes to our internal controls over financial reporting will be effective. If we cannot adequately maintain the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, we may be subject to sanctions or investigation by regulatory authorities, such as the SEC. Any such action could adversely affect our financial results and the market price of our common stock. Moreover, if we discover a material weakness, the disclosure of that fact, even if quickly remedied, could reduce the market’s confidence in our financial statements and harm our stock price.

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

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

The combined voting power of the Common Stock ownership of our officers and directors and key employees is approximately 70% of our voting securities. Additionally, pursuant to the Voting Agreement, IM Ready agreed to appoint a person designated by the board of directors as IM Ready’s irrevocable proxy and attorney-in-fact with respect to the shares of the Common Stock received by IM Ready in connection with the Merger.  The proxy holder shall vote in favor of matters recommended or approved by the board of directors.

As a result, our management and key employees through such stock ownership exercises significant control over all matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of our directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership in management and key employees may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of us that may be otherwise viewed as beneficial by stockholders other than management. There is also a risk that our existing management and a limited number of stockholders may have interests which are different from certain stockholders and that they will pursue an agenda which is beneficial to themselves at the expense of other stockholders.

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

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

The Company incurs increased costs as a result of being a public company, which may adversely affect its business.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We have outstanding warrants and options to purchase 1,477,619 shares of common stock, of which warrants to purchase 582,428 shares are exercisable at a price of $0.01 per share.  The holders of warrants and options will likely exercise such securities at a time when the market price of our common stock exceeds the exercise price.  Therefore, exercises of warrants and options will result in a decrease in the net tangible book value per share of our common stock and such decrease could be material.  In addition, we may issue shares of common stock to satisfy up to $25,265,500 of earn-out payments to IM Ready if royalty revenue targets are met by the Isaac Mizrahi Business.

We may also satisfy our obligations under the $7,377,000 principal amount Seller Note payable to IM Ready by issuing shares of common stock.  The number of shares which we issue to satisfy our earn-out payment obligations or obligations under the Note will be based on the future market price of our common stock and are currently not determinable, provided that there is a floor to the share price to satisfy the Seller Note of $4.50 per share, so the maximum number of shares that could be issued in exchange for the Seller Note is 1,639,334 shares.  The issuance of shares to satisfy such obligations and upon exercise of outstanding warrants and options will dilute our then-existing stockholders’ percentage ownership of our company, and such dilution could be substantial.  Sales or the potential for sale of a substantial number of such shares could adversely affect the market price of our common stock, particularly if our common stock remains thinly traded at such time.

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

The Common Stock is currently traded, but with very low, if any, volume, based on quotations on the “OTCQX”, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our Common Stock at or near bid prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent.  This situation is attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that prior to September 29, 2011, we did not have an operating business, we are a small company which is still relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we became more seasoned and viable.  As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price.  We cannot provide any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for our Common Stock will develop or be sustained, or that trading levels will be sustained.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ITEM 2.        Properties

We do not own any real property. We currently lease and maintain our corporate offices and design operations located at 475 Tenth Avenue, New York, New York, 10018. This lease is for approximately 18,500 square feet of office space in a commercial office building. We believe that this space will be sufficient to meet our current operating needs. In addition, IM Brands leases an office in a commercial office building in Wilmington, Delaware providing trademark maintenance and certain licensing activities.

ITEM 3.        Legal Proceedings

There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or to which the Company’s property is subject to.

ITEM 4.        Mine Safety Disclosure

None

PART II

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Small Business Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

The Company’s common stock has been quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board ("OTCBB") under the trading symbol "XELB", and effective February 6, 2013, the Company’s common stock has also been quoted for trading on the OTCQX tier of the OTC Markets. Our common stock was previously quoted on the OTC Markets under the ticker symbol “NFBH” during the period from May 7, 2008 through September 29, 2011.

The table below sets forth the range of quarterly high and low closing sales prices for our common stock for 2012 and 2011. The quotations below reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not represent actual transactions:

Holders

As of March 15, 2013 the number of stockholders of record was approximately 504 (excluding beneficial owners and any shares held in street name or by nominees).

Dividends

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

Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans

2011 Equity Incentive Plan

On September 29, 2011, the Company assumed the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Old XCel as approved by Old XCel’s board of directors and stockholders. The purpose of the Plan is to enable the Company to offer its employees, officers, directors, consultants and others whose past, present and/or potential contributions to the Company have been, are, or will be important to the success of the Company, an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. The following is a description of the Plan, as amended.

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

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

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2012 regarding compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.

(1) Pursuant to our 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

The preceding table excludes stock options to purchase 576 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $728.77 per share issued pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Stock Option Plan. We do not intend to issue any further grants from this plan.

Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers

The following table provides information with respect to common stock repurchased by us during the year ended December 31, 2012

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Smaller reporting companies are not required to provide the information required by this Item 6.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

On September 29, 2011, (the “Acquisition Date”), the Company merged with Xcel Brands, Inc. (“Old XCel”) and IM Brands, LLC (“IM Brands”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired the Isaac Mizrahi Business (collectively, the “Transaction”).

The Company engages in the design, licensing, and marketing of the Isaac Mizrahi Brand with a focus on a variety of product categories featuring the Isaac Mizrahi Brand.  The Company operates in a “working capital light” business model, licensing the Isaac Mizrahi Brands through its wholly-owned subsidiary IM Brands and generating royalty and design revenues through licensing and other agreements with wholesale manufacturers, sourcing and design companies, and retailers. Prior to our acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the business was a division of IM Ready-Made, LLC (“IM Ready”).

Summary of Critical Accounting Policies

Several of our accounting policies involve management judgments and estimates that could be significant. The policies with the greatest potential effect on our consolidated results of operations and financial position include the estimate of contingent obligations to IM Ready, based on our revenue performance. Due to our licensing model, we do not have any inventory risk and have reduced our operating risks, and can reasonably forecast revenues and plan expenditures based upon guaranteed royalty minimums and sales projections provided by our retail licensees.

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

In connection with our licensing model, we have entered into various trademark license agreements that provide revenues based on minimum royalties and additional revenues based on a percentage of defined sales. Minimum royalty revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over each period, as defined, in each license agreement. Royalties exceeding the defined minimum amounts are recognized as income during the period corresponding to the licensee's sales. In addition, we also receive fees for design and other services. Design and service fees are recorded and recognized in accordance with the terms and conditions of each design fee contract, including the Company meeting its obligations and providing the relevant services under each contract.  Generally, we record on a straight line basis each base fee as stated in each design fee service agreement for the covered period and, if applicable, we recognize additional payments received that are related to a future period as deferred revenue, until service is provided or revenue is earned.

The Company follows Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350” for Intangibles, Goodwill, and Other. Under this standard, goodwill and indefinite lived assets are not amortized. The Company has deemed its trademarks to have indefinite lives, and are not amortized. Under this standard, the Company annually has the option to first assess qualitatively whether it is more likely than not that there is an impairment. Impairment losses are measured by comparing the fair value of the assets to their carrying amount. The Company’s definite lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718 by recognizing the fair value of stock-based compensation in the consolidated statements of operations.  The fair value of the Company’s stock option awards are estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model and restricted stock awards are valued at the fair value of the Company’s stock at the time of grant. The Black-Scholes model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions and elections including expected stock price volatility and the estimated life of each award. In addition, the calculation of compensation costs requires that the Company estimate the number of awards that will be forfeited during the vesting period. The fair value of stock-based awards is amortized over the service period of the awards.  Stock-based compensation that relates to contract performance is amortized over the term of the corresponding contract.

Compensation cost for restricted stock is measured using the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the date the common stock is granted. The compensation cost is recognized over the period between the grant date and the date any restrictions lapse. For stock-based awards that vest based on performance conditions (e.g. achievement of certain milestones), expense is recognized when it is probable that the condition will be met.

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

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

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

Summary of Operating Results

The consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K are as of, or for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “Current Year”), and the year ended December 31, 2011 which includes on an unaudited pro forma basis, the aggregate results of the Company for the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011(the “Successor Prior Year Period”) and IM Ready for the period January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011(the “Predecessor Prior Year Period”, together with the Successor Prior Year Period the “Prior Year”).

Year ended December 31, 2012 Compared to the year ended December 31, 2011 Pro-forma.

The Current Year results are compared with the Prior Year on an unaudited pro-forma basis, as presented in the table below.

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

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

Footnotes to the Unaudited Pro-forma Consolidated Statement of Operations  

[1] The Current Year results are compared with the Prior Year on an unaudited pro-forma basis.

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

[3] This adjustment is designed to eliminate expenses that are not required in the operation of the business and non-recurring in nature.

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

[5] Income tax expense is adjusted to reflect an effective 40% income tax rate. 

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

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

Net Licensing, Design and Service Fee Revenue. Net revenue for the Current Year increased by $1,328,000 to $12,703,000 compared to $11,375,000 in the Prior Year.  Revenue from the Company’s direct-response television business, consisting of Isaac Mizrahi and Liz Claiborne products sold through QVC increased by $938,000 over the Prior Year. Other licensing revenue increased by $1,155,000 over the Prior Year by virtue of the new licenses that commenced on or after October 1, 2011. Design and service fee income increased by $1,171,000 to $2,271,000 compared with the Prior Year. Current Year’s design and service fee revenue included a $1,150,000 fee that was earned from a contract in which we met all of our obligations and recognized all of the revenues in the Current Year. The combined increase stated above of $3,264,000 was partially off-set by $1,748,000 of licensing revenue recognized in the Prior Year from amortization of a one-time payment received by the Predecessor prior to 2011. The Company incurred direct licensing costs of $440,000 during the Current Year compared to $252,000 in the Prior Year, which resulted in an increase in net licensing and design and service fee revenue of $1,328,000.

Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses totaled $13,732,000 in the Current Year compared to $7,436,000 in the Prior Year, an increase of $6,296,000. Design and marketing expenses increased to $5,424,000 from the Prior Year of $3,813,000. This increase was primarily related to the increase in compensation expenses, including an increase of $776,000 of stock-based compensation, and an increase in costs associated with the interactive media business increased sales volume and expanded licensing business. General and administrative expenses increased by $4,645,000 from the Prior Year to $7,452,000, mostly relating to executive management compensation expense, including an increase of stock-based compensation expense of $3,317,000, and other costs associated with being a public company. Total stock-based compensation expense of $4,623,000 increased by $4,093,000 compared with the Prior Year of $530,000. Depreciation and amortization increased by $40,000. 

Other expenses (Income). The Company realized a $422,000 gain on extinguishment of debt and $6,300,000 gain on reduction of contingent obligations.

The gain on extinguishment of debt of $422,000 was the result of the early termination of the Earthbound obligation by a payment of a combination of cash and stock for an amount less than the carrying value of the obligation. The gain on reduction of contingent obligations of $6,300,000 was due to an adjustment of management’s projected assumptions which determine earn-out consideration for IM Ready. The revised revenue projections when compared with target levels of Isaac Mizrahi Business revenues required for earn-out consideration reduced the Company’s contingent obligation accordingly.

Operating Income. Operating income for the Current Year was $5,693,000 compared to $3,939,000 for the Prior Year based on the information provided in the revenue and operating expense and other expenses (income) sections above.

Interest and Finance Costs. Interest and finance costs for the Current Year increased by $39,000 to $2,175,000 compared to $2,136,000 in the Prior Year, although on an actual basis the Predecessor had no interest or other finance costs. Interest expense and other finance costs for the Prior Year are stated as if the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and related financing occurred January 1, 2011.

Provision for Income Taxes. The effective income tax rate for the Current Year was approximately (22%) resulting in a $766,000 income tax benefit. The effective income tax rate for the Prior Year was 40% which resulted in $721,000 of income tax expense.  The Current Year’s deferred tax benefit has been adjusted by (72%) to account for permanent tax difference related to the gain on reduction of tax obligations and an additional 10% adjustment related to other permanent difference, deferred rate change and other miscellaneous adjustments.

Net Income. Our net income was $4,284,000 in the Current Year, compared to net income of $1,082,000 in the Prior Year, as a result of the factors discussed above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

Our principal capital requirements have been to fund working capital needs, and to a lesser extent, capital expenditures. At December 31, 2012 our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaled $3,929,000.   

We expect that existing cash and operating cash flows will be adequate to meet our operating needs, debt service obligations and capital expenditure needs including the debt service under our term loan facility for the next twelve months.  We are dependent on our licensees for most of our revenues, and there is no assurance that the licensees will perform as projected. 

Our business model does not require significant capital expenditures, nor does it require us to invest in inventory.  Although we are limited to $400,000 per year in capital expenditures under the loan agreement, we estimate that capital expenditures for the next twelve months will be less than this amount, including for upgrading technology, and equipment and fixture needs and making necessary improvements to our leased premises.  Therefore, we do not believe that this covenant will restrict expected operations.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for the Current Year approximated $2,600,000 compared with the Successor Prior Year Period used cash in operations totaling $2,059,000.  The Current Year net income of $4,300,000 was off-set by adjustments for non-cash items of $(1,200,000) and a net change in operating assets and liabilities of ($500,000). The non-cash adjustments consisted of stock-based compensation of $4,600,000, non-cash interest expense and other finance costs of $900,000, depreciation and amortization of $900,000, less deferred income tax (benefit) of $900,000, gain on extinguishment of debt of $400,000, and gain on reduction of contingent obligations of $6,300,000.

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

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $117,000 for the Current Year resulting from the purchase of equipment and fixtures.  The Company reduced restricted cash by $175,000 by depositing this sum into a refundable security deposit with our landlord.   Net cash used in investing activities for the Successor Prior Year Period was $12 million, primarily related to the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $1,263,000 for the Current Year.  The Company received a refund of $22,000 for finance costs and received payments totaling $2,000 for warrants exercised during 2012. The Company made principal payments of $17,000 under its capital lease obligations, $556,000 under its debt obligation including the extinguishment of this obligation (see Item 13 for additional details), incurred expenses related to equity and recapitalization of $3,000, and repurchased shares of restricted stock that had vested totaling $711,000. Net cash provided by financing activities for the Successor Prior Year Period was $16,800,000, primarily related to the equity and term debt proceeds, less associated costs relating to the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business and recapitalization of the Company.

Obligations and Commitments

Term Loan - Our term loan facility requires us to pay current interest quarterly at 8.5% per annum. Principal payments begin on January 5, 2013 of $337,500 each quarter during 2013, and increasing thereafter. The following table presents the principal payments under our term loan facility.

We believe that cash from future operations as well as currently available cash will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated working capital requirements for the foreseeable future, including the debt service on the Loan and making necessary upgrades to our infrastructure and technology.  Our obligations to make principal payments on our term debt during the next 12 months is $1,350,000.

The Company’s Seller Note and the contingent obligations under the earn-out provisions described below are payable in stock and or cash, at the Company’s discretion. Payment of these obligations in stock would not affect the Company’s liquidity.

Seller Note - The Company issued a promissory note (the “Seller Note”) in the principal amount of $7,377,000 to IM Ready as partial consideration for the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business.  The stated interest rate of the Seller Note is 0.25%.  Management has determined that this rate is below the Company’s expected borrowing rate, which is 9.25%.  Therefore, the Company has discounted the Seller Note by $1,740,000 using a 9.0%, imputed annual interest rate, resulting in an initial value of $5,637,000.  In addition, the Company pre-paid $123,000 of interest on the Seller Note on the Closing Date.  The discount is amortized into (increases) the basis of the Seller Note over the term of the Seller Note. The Seller Note initially matures on September 29, 2014 (the “Maturity Date”) subject to extension as described below (the date to which the maturity date of the Seller Note is extended is referred to as the “Subsequent Maturity Date”).  We have the right to pay the Seller Note at the Maturity Date in cash or, subject to the following conditions, in shares of Common Stock.  If we elect to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Seller Note on the Maturity Date by issuing shares of Common Stock, the number of shares issuable will be obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Seller Note then outstanding by the greater of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Maturity Date and (ii) $4.50 subject to certain adjustments; provided, however, that if the fair market value of the Common Stock is less than $4.50 as adjusted, IM Ready will have the option to extend the maturity of the Seller Note to the Subsequent Maturity Date. If the maturity date of the Seller Note is so extended, IM Ready will have the option to convert the Seller Note into Common Shares based on the greater of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Subsequent Maturity Date and (ii) $4.50, subject to certain adjustments. If the maturity date of the Seller Note is extended, we will also have the option to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Seller Note on the Subsequent Maturity Date in cash or by issuing the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Note outstanding on the Subsequent Maturity Date by the fair market value of the Common Stock on the Subsequent Maturity Date.  In addition, at any time the Seller Note is outstanding, we have the right to convert the Note, in whole or in part, into the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing the principal amount to be converted by the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of the conversion, so long as the fair market value of our Common Stock is at least $4.50. 

Earn-out obligation - IM Ready is eligible to earn additional shares of Common Stock with a value of up to $7,500,000 (the “Earn-Out Value”) each year for the next three consecutive 12-month periods ending September 30, 2013, 2014 and 2015, with the number of shares to be issued based upon the greater of (i) $4.50 per share and (ii) the average stock price for the last twenty days in such period, and with such earn-out payment contingent upon the Isaac Mizrahi Business achieving net royalty income targets set forth below during those years (the Earn-out Obligation”). IM Ready was eligible to earn additional shares of Common Stock for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, but did not meet the minimum net royalty income target. The Earn-Out Obligation is recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as an $8,700,000 long term liability. The amount is based on management’s estimated revenue over these periods. Any future change in the Earn-Out Obligation will result in an expense or income in the period in which it is determined fair market value of the carrying value has changed.  See Note 5, Debt, to the Notes to Consolidated financial Statements for the royalty targets and percentage of the potential earn-out value

The Earn-Out Value is payable solely in stock. 

QVC Earn-out - The QVC Earn-Out payment requires the Company to pay IM Ready $2,800,000, payable in cash or Common Stock, at the Company’s option, contingent upon the Isaac Mizrahi Business receiving aggregate net royalty income of at least $2,500,000 from QVC in the 12-month period ending September 30, 2015 with such stock based upon the greater of (x) $4.50 per share, and (y) the average stock price for the last twenty days prior to the time of such issuance (the “QVC Earn-out’). The current term of the QVC Agreement runs through September 30, 2015.  Management has determined that it is probable that the $2,500,000 in net royalty income from QVC will be met.   Any change in the expected obligation will result in an expense or income in the period in which it is determined fair market value has changed.  

Other Factors

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

Income taxes

Our income tax provision (benefit) is based on an effective income tax rate, which is comprised of the federal statutory rate and a state and local tax rate, net of federal effect. Our state and local tax rate is affected by the location of earned revenue and certain incurred expenses in determining state and local income tax allocations. Accordingly, our state and local tax rate, net of federal effect may vary and could have a material impact on the fair value of our deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Effects of Inflation

We do not believe that the relatively moderate rates of inflation experienced over the past two years in the United States, where we primarily compete, have had a significant effect on revenues or profitability.  If there were an adverse change in the rate of inflation by less than 10%, the expected effect on net income would be immaterial.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

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

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

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

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

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

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

/s/ Rothstein Kass

Roseland, New Jersey

March 23, 2012

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and

Stockholders of Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiary

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended. Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiary’s management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

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

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2012 and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ CohnReznick LLP 

New York, New York

March 15, 2013
 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2012

Xcel Brands, Inc. ("XCel", “we”, “our” or the "Company") engages in the design, licensing, and marketing and promotion of the Isaac Mizrahi brands with a focus on a variety of product categories featuring the “Isaac Mizrahi” brands including the trademarks and brands “Isaac Mizrahi New York”, “Isaac Mizrahi”, “IsaacMizrahiLIVE”, Isaac Mizrahi Jeans, and “M” (collectively, the “IM Trademarks”), and the design, marketing and promotion of the Liz Claiborne New York brand (the “LCNY Brand”) with a focus on a variety of product categories under the LCNY Brand sold exclusively through QVC, Inc. (“QVC”).

On September 29, 2011 (the “Closing Date”), the Company, Xcel Brands, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation (“Old XCel”), Netfabric Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Acquisition Corp.”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and certain stockholders of the Company entered into an Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which Acquisition Corp. was merged with and into Old XCel, with Old XCel surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger” or “Transaction”).   This resulted in the prior owners of Old XCel (the "accounting acquirer") having actual or effective operating control of the Company after the transaction, with the shareholders of NetFabrics (the "legal acquirer") continuing only as passive investors. No goodwill was recognized since Net Fabrics was a Shell Company.

Also in connection with the Merger and related transactions, the Company acquired from IM Ready-Made, LLC (“IM Ready”) (i) the IM Trademarks, (ii) the license agreements related to the IM Trademarks including a license agreement with QVC (the “QVC Agreement”), (iii) design agreements with Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (formerly Liz Claiborne, Inc.)(“FNP”) (the “LCNY Agreement”) and QVC (the “Design Agreement”) to design the LCNY Brand for sale exclusively at QVC and (iv) computers, design software, and other assets related to the licensing and design of the IM Trademarks and the design of the LCNY Brand (together with the IM Trademarks, the LCNY Agreement, the Design Agreement, and all related license agreements the “Isaac Mizrahi Business”).  The Transaction was accounted for as a business combination, whereby the purchase price paid to effect the Transaction was allocated to record acquired assets and assumed liabilities at their fair value as of the acquisition date.

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

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Xcel Brands, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) accounting rules under Regulation S-X. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Presentation of Predecessor Financial Statements

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

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

Use of Estimates

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

Cash and Cash Equivalents

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

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

For certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.  The carrying value of the debt approximates fair value because the fixed interest rate approximates market rate.

Fair Value

The Financial Standards Accounting Board’s accounting standard codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 820-10 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Subtopic 820-10 outlines a valuation framework, creates a fair value hierarchy in order to increase the consistency and comparability of fair value measurements, and details the disclosures that are required for items measured at fair value. We have contingent obligations that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Our contingent obligations were measured using inputs from level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, which states:

Level 3 – unobservable inputs that reflect our assumptions that market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities based on the best information available. The Company’s earn-out obligation (detailed in Note 5, Debt) is based upon projected revenues as defined in the Transaction agreements.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable represent amounts that are due to the Company by its licensees and other operating account debtors in the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2012 the Company has $3,428,000 of accounts receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $25,000, which is deemed sufficient by Management. As of December 31, 2011 the Company had $2,191,000 of accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0, of which the entire amount was collected during 2012. The accounts receivable balance includes $699,000 and $377,000 of earned revenue that has been accrued but not billed as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Property and Equipment

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

Trademarks, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company follows ASC Topic 350” for Intangibles, Goodwill, and Other. Under this standard, goodwill and indefinite lived assets are not amortized. The Company’s definite lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives of four years.

Under this standard, the Company annually has the option to first assess qualitatively whether it is more likely than not that there is an impairment. The Company completed its annual qualitative assessment and a separate quantitative analysis of its trademarks, other intangibles and goodwill at December 31, 2012 and determined that no further analysis or impairment charges were required. 

Deferred Finance Costs

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

Contingent Obligations

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

Income Taxes

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

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

The Company has no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The Company’s U.S. Federal, state and local income tax returns are closed prior to fiscal year 2009 and management continually evaluates expiring statues of limitations, audits, proposed settlements, changes in tax law and new authoritative rulings.

If applicable, the Company would recognize interest and penalties associated with tax matters as part of the income tax provision, and include accrued interest and penalties with accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

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

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

Concentrations of Credit Risk

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

Significant Contracts

QVC Agreement

Pursuant to the QVC Agreement, the Company designs, and QVC sources and sells, various products under the “IsaacMizrahiLIVE” brand.  The IsaacMizrahiLIVE licensing program launched on QVC in 2010, and includes the sale of products across various categories including apparel, footwear, handbags, accessories, kitchen, soft home, and food through QVC’s television media and related internet sites primarily in the United States. The initial term of the QVC Agreement continues through September 30, 2015, and renews automatically for successive one-year periods unless terminated by either party. Under the QVC Agreement, QVC pays the Company fees based primarily on a percentage of QVC's net sales of Isaac Mizrahi branded merchandise. The QVC Agreement also requires that the Company pay to QVC (and/or IM Ready as assignee from QVC), a percentage of the Company’s net royalty revenue from its other licenses related to the IM Brands. Revenues from QVC were approximately $7.7 million for the year ended December 31 2012, representing 59% of the Company’s total revenues. QVC revenues were approximately $1.9 million and $5.4 million for the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 (the Successor period) and for the period from January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 (the Predecessor periods), respectively, which represents 67% and 62% of total revenues for the Isaac Mizrahi Business, respectively. As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had a receivable from QVC in the amount of $1.9 million and $1.8 million representing 55% and 82% of the Company’s account receivable, respectively. 

LCNY Agreement

In connection with the acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the Company assumed and entered into an amended and restated agreement with FNP dated September 29, 2011, which was amended on January 25, 2013 (collectively the “LCNY Agreement”).  Pursuant to the LCNY Agreement, the Company provides design services to FNP for the “Liz Claiborne New York” brand, which is sold exclusively through QVC. The initial term of the LCNY Agreement continues through July 31, 2013, after which there is an initial renewal term through July 31, 2016, followed by four one-year renewal terms through July 31, 2020, unless otherwise terminated based on the terms of the FNP License Agreement. Under the LCNY Agreement, FNP pays the Company royalties based on a percentage of royalties FNP receives from QVC under a separate license agreement between FNP and QVC (the “FNP License Agreement”). Revenues under the LCNY Agreement totaled approximately $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, representing approximately 13% of the Company’s total revenues. For the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 and the period from January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 revenues under the LCNY Agreement totaled approximately $0.4 million and $2.5 million, respectively, representing 13% and 28% of the Company’s total revenues, respectively. The revenues during the Predecessor period includes amortized revenue of $1.7 million for the period from January 1, 2011 to September 28, 2011 that relates to a one-time fee of $9,000,000 that the Predecessor received from FNP in 2009, which was recorded as a deferred royalty payment by the Predecessor. As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had a receivable from FNP relating to revenues earned by the Company but not yet due from FNP in the amount of $0.7 million and $0.4 million representing 20% and 18% of the Company’s receivables, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation, by recognizing the fair value of stock-based compensation in the consolidated statement of operations.  Stock-based compensation can include stock options and restricted stock grants.

Stock Options - The fair value of the Company’s stock option awards are estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions and elections including expected stock price volatility and the estimated life of each award (The calculation of compensation costs requires that the Company estimate the number of awards that will be forfeited during the vesting period). The fair value of stock options is amortized over the service period of the awards.  

Restricted Stock - Compensation cost for restricted stock is measured using the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the date the common stock is granted. The compensation cost is recognized over the period between the grant date and the date any restrictions lapse. For stock-based awards that vest based on performance conditions (e.g. achievement of certain milestones), expense is recognized when it is probable that the condition will be met.

Advertising Costs

All costs associated with production for the Company’s advertising campaigns are expensed during the periods when the activities take place. All other advertising costs such as print and online media are expensed when the advertisement occurs. The Company incurred no advertising costs for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the period September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011, respectively.

Operating Leases

Total rent payments under operating leases that include scheduled payment increases and rent holidays are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.  Landlord allowances are amortized by the straight-line method over the term of the lease as a reduction of rent expense.

Earnings per Share

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

Segment Reporting

The Company operates in one segment.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment.” ASU 2012-02 simplifies the guidance for testing the decline in the realizable value (impairment) of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill. Examples of intangible assets subject to the guidance include indefinite-lived trademarks, licenses, and distribution rights. The standard applies to all public, private, and not-for-profit organizations. The amendments in this update are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The Company did early adopt. The adoption of ASU No. 2012-02 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or the Company’s consolidated financial position.

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

3. Trademarks, Goodwill and Other Intangibles

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

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

Amortization expense for intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the period from September 29, 2011 to December 31, 2011 is $529,000 and $136,000, respectively. Amortization expense for the Predecessor Periods was nil. The IM Trademarks and related goodwill have been determined to have an indefinite useful life and accordingly, consistent with ASC Topic 350, no amortization has been recorded in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business, the Company recognized $12,371,000 of goodwill that represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. There was no change in goodwill during 2012.

4.  Acquisition of the Isaac Mizrahi Business

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

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

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, at the closing, the Company delivered (i) to IM Ready (a) $9,674,000 in cash, (b) a promissory note (the “Seller Note”) in the principal amount of $7,377,000 and (c) 2,759,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the “IM Ready Stock Consideration”), and (ii) to an escrow agent $500,000 that the escrow agent paid to IM Ready upon resolution of certain obligations of IM Ready and Mizrahi (together, the “Closing Consideration”).  The Company also pre-paid $123,000 of interest on the Seller Note on the Closing Date and registered 1,200,000 of the shares of the IM Ready Stock Consideration in the registration statement which the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2012

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