Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Related Party Transactions

9. Related Party Transactions

IPX Capital, LLC

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

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

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

Amounts due to Stockholder

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

Todd Slater

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

Jones Texas, LLC

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

Earthbound, LLC

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

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

Licensing Agent Agreement

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

IM Ready-Made, LLC

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

Offering

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