Table of Contents

​

​

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

​

FORM 10-Q

​

☒    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

​

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024

or

​

☐    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE

ACT OF 1934

​

For the transition period from ___ to ___

​

Commission File Number: 001-37527

​

XCEL BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

​

​

​

​

(347) 727-2474

(Issuer’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

​

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 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   ☒      No   ☐

​

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes   ☒    No   ☐

​

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

​

​

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

​

Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes   ☐    No   ☒

​

As of May 1, 2024, there were 23,492,117 shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share, of the issuer outstanding.

​

​

​

​

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC.

INDEX

​

​

2

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

​

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

​

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

​

​

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

​

3

Table of Contents

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

​

​

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

​

4

Table of Contents

​

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(in thousands, except share data)

​

​

​

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

​

5

Table of Contents

​

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

​

​

​

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

​

​

6

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

1. Nature of Operations, Background, and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 (which has been derived from audited financial statements) and the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a comprehensive presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared following the same policies and procedures used in the preparation of the audited consolidated financial statements and reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows of Xcel Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or "Xcel"). The results of operations for the interim periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year or for any future interim periods. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on April 19, 2024.

The Company is a media and consumer products company engaged in the design, licensing, marketing, live streaming, and social commerce sales of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, fine jewelry, home goods and other consumer products, and the acquisition of dynamic consumer lifestyle brands.

Currently, the Company’s brand portfolio consists of the Halston brands (the "Halston Brand"), the Judith Ripka brands (the "Ripka Brand"), the C Wonder brands (the "C Wonder Brand"), the LOGO by Lori Goldstein brand (the “Lori Goldstein Brand”), the Longaberger brand (the “Longaberger Brand”), the Isaac Mizrahi brands (the "Isaac Mizrahi Brand"), the TowerHill by Christie Brinkley brand (the “CB Brand”), and other proprietary brands.

The Company also owns a 30% interest in ORME Live, Inc. (“ORME”), a short-form video and social commerce marketplace that is planned to launch in 2024.

The Company primarily generates revenue through the licensing of its brands through contractual arrangements with manufacturers and retailers. The Company, through its licensees, distributes through an omni-channel and social commerce sales strategy, which includes the promotion and sale of products under its brands through interactive television, digital live-stream shopping, social commerce, traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, and e-commerce channels, to be everywhere its customers shop.

7

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

Prior to and for a portion of 2023, the Company also engaged in wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales of products under its brands. The Company’s former wholesale and direct-to-consumer operations were presented as "Net sales" and "Cost of goods sold" in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, separately from the Company’s licensing revenues.

Liquidity and Management’s Plans  

The Company incurred a net loss attributable to Company stockholders of approximately $6.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 (which included non-cash expenses of approximately $4.6 million), and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $60.1 million as of March 31, 2024. Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The Company had working capital (current assets less current liabilities, excluding the current portions of lease obligations, deferred revenue, and any contingent obligations payable in common stock) of approximately $2.1 million as of March 31, 2024. The Company’s unrestricted cash and cash equivalents were approximately $1.6 million as of March 31, 2024. The aforementioned factors raise uncertainties about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

​

During the year ended December 31, 2023, management implemented a plan to mitigate an expected shortfall of capital and to support future operations by shifting its business from a wholesale/licensing hybrid model into a “licensing plus” model. To affect this transition, the Company entered into various new licensing agreements and joint venture arrangements with best-in-class business partners. These restructuring initiatives were substantially completed as of June 30, 2023. Management believes that this evolution of the Company’s operating model will provide the Company with significant cost savings and allow the Company to reduce and better manage its exposure to operating risks. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had reduced payroll costs by approximately $6 million and operating expenses (excluding non-recurring charges related to the restructuring) by approximately $9 million, on an annualized basis when compared to the corresponding periods in the prior year.

Also during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company entered into a new term loan agreement in the amount of $5 million, which provided the Company with additional liquidity.

Further, in March 2024, the Company issued new shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $1.9 million, which provided the Company with additional liquidity.

Based on the aforementioned events and changes, management expects that existing cash and future operating cash flows will be adequate to meet the Company’s operating needs, term debt service obligations, and capital expenditure needs, for at least the twelve months subsequent to the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; therefore, such conditions and uncertainties with respect to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern as of March 31, 2024, have been alleviated.

​

​

2.      Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates and Variable Interest Entities  

Investment in IM Topco, LLC

On May 27, 2022, Xcel (along with IM Topco, LLC (“IM Topco”) and IM Brands, LLC (“IMB”), both wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company) and IM WHP, LLC (“WHP”), a subsidiary of WHP Global, a private equity-backed brand management and licensing company, entered into a membership purchase agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, on May 31, 2022, (i) the Company contributed assets owned by IMB, including the Isaac Mizrahi Brand trademarks and other intellectual property rights relating thereto into IM Topco, and (ii) the Company sold 70% of the membership interests of IM Topco to WHP.

8

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

The Company accounts for its 30% interest in the ongoing operations of IM Topco as other operating costs and expenses under the equity method of accounting. Pursuant to the business venture agreement between the Company and WHP governing the operation of IM Topco, IM Topco’s net cash flow (as defined in the agreement) shall be distributed to the members during each fiscal year no less than once per fiscal quarter, as follows:

Based on these distribution provisions, the Company recognized an equity method loss of $0.52 million related to its investment in IM Topco for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. For cash flow earnings (i.e., net income before intangible asset amortization expense), management allocated the amounts based on the preferences outlined above. As such, Xcel recognized no cash-based earnings for both of the periods presented. For non-cash amortization expense, management allocated the amounts based on the relative ownership of each member (i.e., 70% WHP and 30% Xcel). The equity method loss for each period presented is equal Xcel’s share of amortization expense.

Summarized financial information for IM Topco for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

​

Refer to Notes 10, 11, and 12 for other information regarding the Company’s ongoing relationship with IM Topco.

​

Investment in Orme Live, Inc.

In December 2023, the Company contributed $0.15 million of cash to ORME in exchange for a 30% equity ownership interest in ORME. The carrying value of this investment is included within other assets in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Company accounts for its 30% interest in the operations of ORME as a component of other operating costs and expenses under the equity method of accounting. The Company’s proportional share of the operating results of ORME for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was a loss of approximately $0.02 million.

9

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

Longaberger Licensing, LLC Variable Interest Entity

Since 2019, Xcel has been party to a limited liability company agreement with a subsidiary of Hilco Global related to Longaberger Licensing, LLC (“LL”). Hilco Global is the sole Class A Member of LL, and Xcel is the sole Class B Member of LL (each individually a “Member”). Each Member holds a 50% equity ownership interest in LL; however, based on an analysis of the contractual terms and rights contained in the LLC agreement and related agreements, the Company has previously determined that under the applicable accounting standards, LL is a variable interest entity and the Company has effective control over LL. Therefore, as the primary beneficiary, the Company has consolidated LL since 2019, and has recognized the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of LL as part of its consolidated financial statements, along with a noncontrolling interest which represents Hilco Global’s 50% ownership share in LL.

​

​

3.      Trademarks and Other Intangibles  

Trademarks and other intangibles, net consist of the following:

​

​

​

Amortization expense for intangible assets was approximately $1.53 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 (the "current quarter") and approximately $1.54 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 (the "prior year quarter").

​

4.      Significant Contracts and Concentrations

Qurate Agreements

Under the Company’s agreements with Qurate Retail Group (“Qurate”), collectively referred to as the Qurate Agreements, Qurate is obligated to make payments to the Company on a quarterly basis, based primarily upon a percentage of net retail sales of certain specified branded merchandise. Net retail sales are defined as the aggregate amount of all revenue generated through the sale of the specified branded products by Qurate and its subsidiaries under the Qurate Agreements, net of customer returns, and excluding freight, shipping and handling charges, and sales, use, or other taxes. Net licensing revenue from the Qurate Agreements represents a significant portion of the Company’s total net revenue.

Net licensing revenue from the Qurate Agreements totaled $1.61 million and $1.52 million for the current quarter and prior year quarter, respectively, representing approximately 59% and 25% of the Company’s total net revenue for the current quarter and prior year quarter, respectively.

10

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had receivables from Qurate of $1.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, representing approximately 37% and 43% of the Company’s total net accounts receivable, respectively.

​

Halston Master License

On May 15, 2023, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, H Halston, LLC and H Heritage Licensing, LLC (collectively, the “Licensor”), entered into a master license agreement relating to the Halston Brand (the “Halston Master License”) with G-III Apparel Group (“G-III”), an industry-leading wholesale apparel company, for men’s and women’s apparel, men’s and women’s fashion accessories, children’s apparel and accessories, home, airline amenity and amenity kits, and such other product categories as mutually agreed upon. The Halston Master License provided for an upfront cash payment and royalties payable to the Company, including certain guaranteed minimum royalties, includes annual minimum net sales requirements, and has a twenty-five-year term (consisting of an initial five-year period, followed by a twenty-year period), subject to G-III’s right to terminate with at least 120 days’ notice prior to the end of each five-year period during the term. G-III has an option to purchase the Halston Brand for $5.0 million at the end of the twenty-five-year term, which right may be accelerated under certain conditions associated with an uncured material breach of the Halston Master License in accordance with the terms of the Halston Master License. The Licensor granted G-III a security interest in the Halston trademarks to secure the Licensor’s obligations under the Halston Master License, including to honor the obligations under the purchase option.

As a result of the upfront cash payment and guaranteed minimum royalties discussed above, the Company has recognized $4.2 million and $4.4 million of deferred revenue contract liabilities on its condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, $0.9 million of the contract liability balance was classified as a current liability and approximately $3.5 million was classified as a long-term liability. As of March 31, 2024, $0.9 million of the contract liability balance was classified as a current liability and approximately $3.3 million was classified as a long-term liability.

The balance of the deferred revenue contract liabilities will be recognized ratably as revenue over the next 4.13 years. Net licensing revenue recognized from the Halston Master License was $0.6 million for the current quarter, representing approximately 30% of the Company’s total net revenue for the current quarter.

​

5. Leases

The Company is party to operating leases for real estate, and for certain equipment with a term of 12 months or less. The Company is currently not a party to any finance leases.

Lease expense (net of sublease income) included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations was approximately $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the current quarter and prior year quarter, respectively. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was approximately $0.4 million in both the current quarter and prior year quarter.

1333 Broadway

The Company has an operating lease for offices located at 1333 Broadway, 10th floor, New York, New York, which commenced on March 1, 2016 and expires on October 30, 2027. The average annual fixed rent over the term of this lease is approximately $1.3 million per year, and the lease requires the Company to pay additional rents related to increases in certain taxes and other costs on the property.

11

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

On January 26, 2024, the Company (as sublessor) entered into an agreement for the sublease of the offices located at 1333 Broadway to a third-party subtenant through October 30, 2027. The average annual fixed rent over the term of the sublease is approximately $0.8 million per year. As a result of entering into the sublease, the Company recognized a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million effective February 29, 2024 (which was determined to be the date of a fundamental change to the use of the 1333 Broadway premises) related to the right-of-use asset. Also in connection with entering into the sublease, the Company recognized a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $0.4 million during the current quarter related to leasehold improvement assets at this location.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s lease of 1333 Broadway has a remaining lease term of approximately 3.58 years, and the lease liability recorded on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet is measured using a discount rate of 6.25%.

550 Seventh Avenue

Effective February 29, 2024, the Company entered into an operating lease for new corporate offices located at 550 Seventh Avenue, 11th floor, New York, New York. This lease commenced in April 2024 and expires in April 2031. The average annual lease cost over the term of this lease is approximately $0.5 million per year. As of March 31, 2024, no right-of-use asset or lease liability was recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet related to this lease, as the lease had not yet commenced.

Future Lease Obligations

As of March 31, 2024, the maturities of lease obligations were as follows:

​

​

​

​

​

6. Debt

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

​

​

12

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

On October 19, 2023, H Halston IP, LLC (the “Borrower”), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Xcel Brands, Inc., entered into a term loan agreement with Israel Discount Bank of New York (“IDB”). Pursuant to this loan agreement, IDB made a term loan to the Company in the aggregate amount of $5.0 million. The proceeds of this term loan were used to pay fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with entering into the loan agreement, and may be used for working capital purposes. Such costs incurred in connection with the borrowing included a commitment fee paid to IDB, plus various legal and other fees. These fees and costs totaling $0.3 million have been deferred on the Company’s balance sheet as a reduction of the carrying value of the term loan debt, and are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the debt using the effective interest method.

​

In connection with this term loan agreement, the Borrower and H Licensing, LLC (“H Licensing”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel, entered into a security agreement (the “Security Agreement”) in favor of IDB, and Xcel entered into a Membership Interest Pledge Agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”) in favor of IDB. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, the Borrower and H Licensing granted to IDB a security interest in substantially all of their respective assets, other than the trademarks owned by the Borrower and H Licensing, to secure the Borrower’s obligations under the October 2023 loan agreement.  Pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, Xcel granted to IDB a security interest in its membership interests in H Licensing to secure the Borrower’s obligations under the October 2023 loan agreement.

​

The term loan matures on October 19, 2028. Principal on the term loan is payable in quarterly installments of $250,000 on each of January 2, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year, commencing on April 1, 2024. The Borrower has the right to prepay all or any portion of the term loan at any time without penalty.

​

As of March 31, 2024, the aggregate remaining principal payments under the term loan were as follows:

​

​

Interest on the term loan accrues at “Term SOFR” (as defined in the loan agreement as the forward-looking term rate based on secured overnight financing rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for an interest period equal to one month on the day that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of each calendar month) plus 4.25% per annum. Interest on the term loan is payable on the first day of each calendar month. In addition, on October 19, 2023, the Borrower also entered into a swap agreement with IDB, pursuant to which IDB will pay the Borrower Term SOFR plus 4.25% per annum on the notional amount of the swap in exchange for the Borrower paying IDB 9.46% per annum on such notional amount. The term and declining notional amount of the swap agreement is aligned with the amortization of the October 2023 term loan principal amount. The fair value of this swap agreement was immaterial as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

​

For the current quarter, the Company incurred interest expense (including both interest paid in cash and the amortization of deferred finance costs) related to term loan debt of approximately $0.15 million, reflecting an effective interest rate of approximately 11.6%.

The term loan agreement also contains customary covenants, including reporting requirements, trademark preservation, and certain financial covenants including annual guaranteed minimum royalty ratio, annual fixed charge coverage ratio, and minimum cash balance levels, all as specified and defined in the loan agreement.

13

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants under the loan agreement as of and for all periods presented in the financial statements.

​

7. Stockholders’ Equity

Public Offering and Private Placement Transactions

On March 15, 2024, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (the “Representative”), as the representative of the underwriters, relating to a firm commitment underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of 3,284,422 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price to the public of $0.65 per share.

The closing of the Offering occurred on March 19, 2024. The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the shares, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company, were approximately $1.7 million.

Upon closing of the Offering, the Company issued the Representative certain warrants to purchase up to 182,952 shares of common stock (the “Representative’s Warrants”) as compensation, which amount was offset against the proceeds received. The Representative’s Warrants will be exercisable at a per share exercise price of $0.8125. The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable, in whole or in part, during the four and one-half-year period commencing 180 days from the commencement of sales of the shares of common stock in the Offering.

In connection with the Offering, on March 14, 2024, the Company entered into subscription agreements with each of Robert W. D’Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; an affiliate of Mark DiSanto, a director of the Company; and Seth Burroughs, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Treasury of the Company to purchase 132,589, 132,589, and 29,464 shares, respectively (collectively, the “Private Placement Shares”), at a price of $0.98 per Private Placement Share. The total number of Private Placement Shares purchased was 294,642. Net proceeds after payment of agent fees to the Representative were approximately $0.3 million. The purchase of the Private Placement Shares closed concurrently with the Offering.

The aggregate number of shares of common stock issued from the Offering and the Private Placement was 3,579,064 shares and the total net proceeds received was approximately $1.9 million.

Equity Incentive Plans

A total of 4,000,000 shares of common stock are eligible for issuance under the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan provides for the grant of any or all of the following types of awards: stock options (incentive or non-qualified), restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, or cash awards. The 2021 Plan is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors, or, at the Board’s discretion, a committee of the Board.

In addition, stock-based awards (including options, warrants, and restricted stock) previously granted under the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) remain outstanding and shares of common stock may be issued to satisfy options or warrants previously granted under the 2011 Plan, although no new awards may be granted under the 2011 Plan.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation by recognizing the fair value of such compensation as an operating expense over the service period of the award or term of the corresponding contract, as applicable. Forfeitures are accounted for as a reduction of compensation cost in the period when such forfeitures occur. For stock option awards for which vesting is contingent upon the achievement of certain performance targets, the timing and amount of compensation expense recognized is based upon the Company’s projections and estimates of the relevant performance metric(s) until the time the performance obligation is satisfied.

14

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

Expense for such awards is recognized only to the extent that the achievement of the specified performance target(s) has been met or is considered probable.

Total expense recognized for all forms of stock-based compensation was approximately $0.13 million and $0.06 million for the current quarter and prior year quarter, respectively. For both periods, substantially all of the expense was related to directors and consultants, and was recorded as operating costs within “other selling, general and administrative expenses” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Stock Options

A summary of the Company’s stock options activity for the current quarter is as follows:

​

​

Compensation expense related to stock options for the current quarter and the prior year quarter was approximately $0.02 million and $0.03 million, respectively. Total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options at March 31, 2024 was approximately $0.05 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 0.97 years.

A summary of the Company’s non-vested stock options activity for the current quarter is as follows:

​

​

​

15

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

Stock Awards

A summary of the Company’s restricted stock activity for the current quarter is as follows:  

​

​

On January 12, 2024, the Company issued 78,000 shares of common stock to a consultant, which shares vested immediately.

Compensation expense related to stock awards was approximately $0.11 million for the current quarter and approximately $0.03 million for the prior year quarter. Total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock grants at March 31, 2024 was approximately $0.04 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 0.96 years.

Restricted Stock Units

There were no restricted stock units outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and no restricted stock units have been issued since the inception of the 2021 Plan.

Shares Available Under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plans

At March 31, 2024, there were 3,025,941 shares of common stock available for future award grants under the 2021 Plan.

Shares Reserved for Issuance

As of March 31, 2024, there were 8,031,046 shares of common stock reserved for issuance, including 4,511,755 shares reserved pursuant to unexercised warrants and stock options previously granted under the 2011 Plan, 493,350 shares reserved pursuant to unexercised stock options granted under the 2021 Plan, and 3,025,941 shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan.

​

​

16

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

Warrants

A summary of the Company’s warrants activity for the current quarter is as follows:

​

​

Warrants issued during the current quarter were related to the March 19, 2024 Offering (see “Public Offering and Private Placement Transactions” above for details). There was no compensation expense recognized during the current quarter related to these warrants.

In connection with the entrance into the Halston Master License (see Note 4), the Company issued to G-III a ten-year warrant to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share, which vests based upon certain annual royalty targets being satisfied under the license agreement. The fair value of this warrant is being recognized as a reduction of revenue over the term of the related license agreement, with an offsetting increase to stockholders’ equity as additional paid-in capital. The amount of contra-revenue recorded related to this warrant during the current quarter was approximately $0.01 million. As of March 31, 2024, no portion of this warrant had vested.

Excluding the contra-revenue recognized with respect to the Halston Master License warrant, there was no compensation expense related to warrants recognized in the current quarter or prior year quarter.

​

8.    Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding the effects of any potentially dilutive securities. Diluted EPS reflects, in periods in which they have a dilutive effect, the effect of common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants, using the treasury stock method. Diluted EPS excludes all potentially dilutive shares of common stock if their effect is anti-dilutive.

​

17

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

The following table is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted net loss per share computations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

​

​

As a result of the net loss for the current quarter and prior year quarter, the Company calculated diluted EPS using basic weighted average shares outstanding for such periods, as utilizing diluted shares would be anti-dilutive to loss per share for such periods.

​

The computation of diluted EPS excludes the following potentially dilutive securities because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive:  

​

​

​

9.    Income Taxes

The estimated annual effective income tax rate for the current quarter and the prior year quarter was approximately 0% for both periods, resulting in an income tax benefit of $0 for both periods.

For both the current quarter and the prior year quarter, the federal statutory rate differed from the effective tax rate due to the recording of a valuation allowance against the benefit that would have otherwise been recognized, as it was considered not more likely than not that the net operating losses generated during each period will be utilized in future periods.

​

​

18

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

10.    Related Party Transactions

IM Topco, LLC

As described in Note 2, the Company holds a noncontrolling interest in IM Topco, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Service Agreement

On May 31, 2022, the Company entered into a services agreement with IM Topco, pursuant to which the Company provides certain design and support services (including assistance with the operations of the interactive television business and related talent support) to IM Topco in exchange for payments of $300,000 per year.

​

In November 2023, the services agreement was amended such that the Company agreed to provide IM Topco with a $600,000 reduction of future service fees over the next eighteen months, beginning on July 1, 2023.

​

The Company recognized service fee income related to this agreement of $37,500 and $75,000 for the current quarter and prior year quarter, respectively.

​

License Agreement

​

On May 31, 2022, the Company entered into a license agreement with IM Topco, pursuant to which IM Topco granted the Company a license to use certain Isaac Mizrahi trademarks on and in connection with the design, manufacture, distribution, sale, and promotion of women’s sportswear products in the United States and Canada during the term of the agreement, in exchange for the payment of royalties in connection therewith. The initial term of this agreement was set to end on December 31, 2026, and provided guaranteed minimum royalties to IM Topco of $400,000 per year.

​

Effective December 16, 2022, the license agreement between IM Topco and Xcel was terminated in favor of a new similar license agreement between IM Topco and an unrelated third party. However, as part of the termination of the May 31, 2022 license agreement, Xcel provided a guarantee to IM Topco for the payment of any difference between (i) the royalties received by IM Topco from the unrelated third party under the new agreement and (ii) the amount of guaranteed royalties that IM Topco would have received from Xcel under the May 31, 2022 agreement. For the prior year quarter, the estimated amount of such shortfall was approximately $60,000, which the Company recognized as royalty expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

​

In November 2023, the Company, WHP, and IM Topco entered into an amendment of the May 27, 2022 membership purchase agreement, under which Xcel agreed to make additional royalty payments to IM Topco totaling $450,000 over the next 11 months. As a result of this amendment, the Company recognized a $450,000 increase to the carrying value basis of its equity method investment in IM Topco and a corresponding increase in current liabilities. No amounts were paid to IM Topco during the current quarter, and as of March 31, 2024, the remaining payments due totaled $375,000.

​

Financing Transactions

​

Public Offering and Private Placement Transactions

​

In connection with the Offering of 3,284,422 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price to the public of $0.65 per share which was consummated on March 19, 2024 (see Note 7 for additional details), Robert W. D’Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; an affiliate of Mark DiSanto, a director of the Company; and Seth Burroughs, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Treasury of the Company, purchased 146,250, 146,250, and 32,500 shares, respectively, at $0.65 per share, the same price at which the shares were sold to other purchasers in the Offering.

19

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

In connection with the Offering, on March 14, 2024, the Company entered into subscription agreements with each of Mr. D’Loren, Mr. DiSanto, and Mr. Burroughs to purchase 132,589, 132,589, and 29,464 shares, respectively (collectively, the “Private Placement Shares”), at a price of $0.98 per Private Placement Share. The total number of Private Placement Shares purchased was 294,642. Net proceeds after payment of agent fees to the Representative were approximately $0.3 million. The purchase of the Private Placement Shares closed concurrently with the Offering.

​

11.    Commitments and Contingencies

Contingent Obligation – Isaac Mizrahi Transaction

In connection with the May 31, 2022 transaction related to the sale of a majority interest in the Isaac Mizrahi Brand, the Company agreed with WHP that, in the event that IM Topco receives less than $13.3 million in aggregate royalties for any four consecutive calendar quarters over a three-year period ending on May 31, 2025, WHP would be entitled to receive from Xcel up to $16 million, less all amounts of net cash flow distributed to WHP on an accumulated basis, as an adjustment to the purchase price previously paid by WHP. Such amount would be payable by the Company in either cash or equity interests in IM Topco held by the Company. In November 2023, this agreement was amended such that the purchase price adjustment provision was waived until the measurement period ending March 31, 2024. The purchase price adjustment provision was subsequently further amended in April 2024 (see Note 12 for details).

No amount has been recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this contingent obligation.

Contingent Obligation – Lori Goldstein Earn-Out

In connection with the April 1, 2021 purchase of the Lori Goldstein trademarks, the Company agreed to pay the seller additional cash consideration (the “Lori Goldstein Earn-Out”) of up to $12.5 million, based on royalties earned during the six calendar year period commencing in 2021. The Lori Goldstein Earn-Out was initially recorded as a liability of $6.6 million, based on the difference between the fair value of the acquired assets of the Lori Goldstein brand and the total consideration paid, in accordance with the guidance in ASC Subtopic 805-50.

As of December 31, 2022, based on the performance of the Lori Goldstein brand to date, approximately $0.2 million of additional consideration was earned by the seller, and this $0.2 million of additional consideration was paid to the seller during 2023.

Based on the performance of the Lori Goldstein through December 31, 2023, approximately $1.0 million of incremental additional consideration was earned by the seller, which will be paid out in 2024. During the current quarter, the Company paid approximately $0.3 million of the $1.0 million earned, and as of March 31, 2024, $0.7 million of the remaining balance was recorded as a current liability and $5.4 million was recorded as a long-term liability.

Legal Matters

From time to time, the Company becomes involved in legal claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business. The Company routinely assesses all its litigation and threatened litigation as to the probability of ultimately incurring a liability, and records its best estimate of the ultimate loss in situations where it assesses the likelihood of loss as probable.

​

20

Table of Contents

XCEL BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

With the exception of the matter described in detail below, in the opinion of management, based on consultations with legal counsel, the disposition of litigation currently pending against the Company is unlikely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

​

On February 16, 2024, counsel to Lori Goldstein, a brand spokesperson for the Company, advised the Company that the Company was in material breach of the Asset Purchase Agreement dated March 31, 2021 (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) by and among Gold Licensing LLC (“Gold” and, together with Xcel, the ”Xcel Parties”), a subsidiary of the Company, and Lori Goldstein and Lori Goldstein, Ltd. (“LG Ltd” and, together with Lori Goldstein, the “LG Parties”) for failure to pay $963,642 earned in 2023 in accordance with the earn-out provisions of the agreement. The Company does not dispute the amount of the Lori Goldstein Earn-Out that was achieved in 2023, and advised Ms. Goldstein that due to the alleged breaches described below, the Company was not willing to pay this amount at such time. The Company subsequently paid approximately $241,000 of the earn-out payment.

​

On May 2, 2024, the Xcel Parties made a written demand for arbitration and commenced an arbitration proceeding against the LG Parties for, among other things, alleged breaches of the Asset Purchase Agreement and alleged breaches of Ms. Goldstein’s employment agreement with the Company. The Company is seeking compensatory damages and consequential damages. Additionally, on May 2, 2024, the Company terminated the employment agreement and the consulting agreement between the Company and LG Ltd. The parties are negotiating to resolve all outstanding disputes and, if an agreement is reached, it may include, among other things, a disposition of the Lori Goldstein brands and related assets to LG Ltd. By agreement between the Company and Ms. Goldstein, while negotiations continue, Ms. Goldstein is continuing to comply with her material obligations to QVC. There can be no assurance that these disputes will be resolved in a manner favorable to the Company or at all.

​

As of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no definitive agreements or terms agreed to by the parties, and it is not certain when or if an agreement will be executed.

​

12.    Subsequent Events

IM Topco

On April 12, 2024, the Company, WHP, and IM Topco entered into amendments of the May 27, 2022 (and as subsequently amended) membership purchase agreement and the related business venture agreement. Under these amendments, the parties agreed to the following:

​

21

Table of Contents

ITEM 2.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements that are not historical facts contained in this report are forward-looking statements that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict and many of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks are detailed in the Risk Factors section of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on April 19, 2024. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “continue,” “estimate,” “appear,” “suggest,” “goal,” “potential,” “predicts,” “seek,” “will,” “confident,” “project,” “provide,” “plan,” “likely,” “future,” “ongoing,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “guidance,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Overview

Xcel Brands, Inc. (“Xcel,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a media and consumer products company engaged in the design, licensing, marketing, live streaming, and social commerce sales of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, fine jewelry, home goods and other consumer products, and the acquisition of dynamic consumer lifestyle brands. Xcel was founded in 2011 with a vision to reimagine shopping, entertainment, and social media as one thing. Currently, the Company’s brand portfolio consists of the following:

We also own a 30% interest in ORME Live Inc., a short-form video and social commerce marketplace that launched in the first quarter of 2024.

Xcel continues to pioneer a true omni-channel and social commerce sales strategy which includes the promotion and sale of products under its brands through interactive television, digital live-stream shopping, social commerce, traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, and e-commerce channels, to be everywhere its customers shop. Our brands have generated over $5 billion in retail sales via live streaming in interactive television and digital channels alone, and our brands collectively reach over 5 million social media followers through Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. All of the followers may not be unique followers, as many followers may follow multiple brands and follow our brands on multiple platforms.

Our objective is to build a diversified portfolio of lifestyle consumer products brands through organic growth and the strategic acquisition of new brands. To grow our brands, we are focused on the following primary strategies:

22

Table of Contents

We believe that Xcel offers a unique value proposition to our retail and direct-to-consumer customers and our licensees for the following reasons:

Summary of Operating Results

Three months ended March 31, 2024 (the “current quarter”) compared with the three months ended March 31, 2023 (the “prior year quarter”)

Revenues

Current quarter net revenue decreased approximately $3.9 million to $2.2 million from $6.1 million for the prior year quarter. This decline was almost entirely attributable to the decrease in net product sales to zero, due to the exit from our wholesale apparel and fine jewelry sales operations and outsourcing of our Longaberger business as part of the restructuring and transformation of our business operating model in 2023. Net licensing revenue was approximately $2.2 million in both the current quarter and prior year quarter, and with a decrease of less than 2% was essentially flat year-over-year.

Cost of Goods Sold

Current quarter cost of goods sold was zero, compared with $2.7 million for the prior year quarter. This was driven by the aforementioned exit from our wholesale and direct-to-consumer operations as part of the 2023 business model restructuring.

Direct Operating Costs and Expenses

Direct operating costs and expenses decreased approximately $3.0 million from $7.0 million in the prior year quarter to $4.0 million in the current quarter. This decrease was primarily attributable to the 2023 restructuring and transformation of our business operating model, which included reductions in staffing levels as well as related reductions in other overhead costs.

Other Operating Costs and Expenses (Income)

Depreciation and amortization expense was approximately $1.6 million and $1.8 million in the current quarter and prior year quarter, respectively.

We recognized equity method losses related to our equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates (IM Topco, LLC and Orme Live Inc.) of $0.53 million and $0.52 million for the current quarter and prior year quarter, respectively, due to the operations of those businesses and the distribution provisions applicable to each.

23

Table of Contents

During the current quarter, we recognized asset impairment charges of $2.3 million related to our exit from and sublease of our offices at 1333 Broadway, of which $1.9 million related to the operating lease right-of-use asset and $0.4 million related to leasehold improvements at that location.

Income Taxes

The estimated annual effective income tax rate for the current quarter and the prior year quarter was approximately 0% for both periods, resulting in an income tax benefit of $0 for both periods.

For both the current quarter and the prior year quarter, the federal statutory rate differed from the effective tax rate due to the recording of a valuation allowance against the benefit that would have otherwise been recognized, as it was considered not more likely than not that the net operating losses generated during each period will be utilized in future periods.

Net Loss Attributable to Xcel Brands, Inc. Stockholders

We had a net loss of $6.3 million for the current quarter, compared with a net loss of $5.6 million for the prior year quarter, due to the combination of the factors outlined above.

Non-GAAP Net (Loss) Income, Non-GAAP Diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA

We had a non-GAAP net loss of approximately $1.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted share (“non-GAAP diluted EPS”), for the current quarter and a non-GAAP net loss of $3.6 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter. Non-GAAP net (loss) income is a non-GAAP unaudited term, which we define as net (loss) income attributable to Xcel Brands, Inc. stockholders, exclusive of amortization of trademarks, our proportional share of trademark amortization of equity method investees, stock-based compensation and cost of licensee warrants, asset impairment charges, and income taxes. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS measures do not include the tax effect of the aforementioned adjusting items, due to the nature of these items and the Company’s tax strategy.

We had Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $(1.6) million for the current quarter, compared with approximately $(3.2) million for the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP unaudited measure, which we define as net (loss) income attributable to Xcel Brands, Inc. stockholders before depreciation and amortization, our proportional share of trademark amortization of equity method investees, interest and finance expenses (including loss on extinguishment of debt, if any), income taxes, other state and local franchise taxes, stock-based compensation and cost of licensee warrants, gains on sales of assets and investments, gain on lease termination, asset impairment charges, and costs associated with restructuring of operations.

Management uses non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA as measures of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to identify business trends relating to the Company’s results of operations. Management believes non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA are also useful because these measures adjust for certain costs and other events that management believes are not representative of our core business operating results, and thus, these non-GAAP measures provide supplemental information to assist investors in evaluating the Company’s financial results.

Non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, earnings per share, or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Given that non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measures not deemed to be in accordance with GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, our non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including companies in our industry, because other companies may calculate non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA in a different manner than we calculate these measures.

In evaluating non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may or may not incur expenses similar to some of the adjustments in this report. Our presentation of non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA does not imply that our future results will be unaffected by these expenses or any other unusual or non-recurring items.

24

Table of Contents

When evaluating our performance, you should consider non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including our net income and other GAAP results, and not rely on any single financial measure.

The following table is a reconciliation of net loss attributable to Xcel Brands, Inc. stockholders (our most directly comparable financial measure presented in accordance with GAAP) to non-GAAP net loss:

​

​

The following table is a reconciliation of diluted net loss per share (our most directly comparable financial measure presented in accordance with GAAP) to non-GAAP diluted EPS:

​