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Commitments, Contingencies and Other | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments, Contingencies and Other | Commitments, Contingencies and Other [1] Legal Proceedings:
(a) | As previously disclosed, on February 2, 2012, two individuals purporting to be stockholders of the Company commenced separate civil actions in the Supreme Court of New York, Queens County, Mark Ioffe, Derivatively on Behalf of Nominal Defendant Steven Madden, Ltd. v. Steven Madden, et. al, No. 700188-2012 (the “Ioffe Action”) and Catherine L. Phillips, Derivatively on Behalf of Nominal Defendant Steven Madden, Ltd. v. Steven Madden, et. al, No. 700189-2012 (together with the Ioffe Action, the “Actions”). The Actions asserted derivative claims challenging the decision of the Company's Board of Directors in January 2012 to amend Steven Madden's employment agreement dated July 15, 2005, and amended as of December 14, 2009 and to amend the promissory note setting forth Mr. Madden's obligations in respect of a loan made by the Company to Mr. Madden in 2007 and amended in 2009 and claimed, among other things, that the Board violated its duties of loyalty and good faith by approving the amendments. The Actions also asserted claims of unjust enrichment against Mr. Madden. The Company and the other defendants filed a motion for dismissal of the Actions, which was granted by the court on September 13, 2012. The plaintiffs did not file a notice of appeal with respect to the dismissal of the Actions and the time period for filing an appeal expired.
On or about May 17, 2013, a law firm purporting to represent Mark Ioffe served a demand letter on the Company's Board of Directors (the “Demand Letter”). The allegations in the Demand Letter are substantively the same as the claims made in the Actions in which the Court entered a judgment of dismissal. The Demand Letter provides that should the Board of Directors fail to take the actions demanded within a reasonable period of time or refuse to take such actions, Mr. Ioffe would commence a shareholder derivative action on behalf of the Company. In response to the Demand Letter, the Board of Directors has formed a special committee consisting of Board members Richard P. Randall, Peter Migliorini and Ravi Sachdev to, among other things, investigate and evaluate the various demands, allegations and requests for action contained in the Demand Letter. The special committee commenced an investigation into the matters raised in the Demand Letter and retained independent counsel to assist and advise it in connection with such investigation. After completing a thorough investigation and evaluation of its findings, the special committee reported to the Board of Directors its recommendation that the Company take no action in response to the Demand Letter. The Board accepted the recommendation of the special committee and determined that the best interests of the Company would not be served by taking any action in response to the Demand Letter.
(b) | As previously disclosed, on July 19, 2011, an individual purporting to act on behalf of a class of similarly situated individuals commenced a civil action in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Samantha Ellison, individually and on behalf of a class of similarly situated individuals v. Steven Madden, Ltd., No. CV11-05935 (the “Ellison Action”) asserting that the Company made unsolicited commercial text calls to wireless telephone numbers of the class members in violation of the Telephone Consumers Protection Act (the "TCPA") and seeking, on behalf of the class, an injunction requiring the Company to cease all wireless text messages without prior written consent as required by the TCPA, as well as the recovery of statutory damages to the class members together with costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. The Company responded by challenging the suit on several grounds. Settlement discussions resulted in a settlement being reached on July 30, 2012 for an aggregate gross settlement fund of $10,000, from which all of the Company's settlement obligations were to be paid, including, but not limited to, valid claims, claims administration fees, and the fees and costs of class counsel. Following a fairness hearing, on May 7, 2013, the court entered an order granting final approval of the settlement and dismissing the Ellison Action on the merits and with prejudice. The Company submitted a initial settlement payment of $5,000 into the settlement fund. The Company's insurer covered 45% of the initial settlement payment of $5,000, subject to the Company's agreement to return, to the Company's insurer, its pro rata share of any remaining amounts in the settlement fund. The claims administrator has paid all of the Company's settlement obligations from the settlement fund. Because of the number of valid claims submitted to the claims administrator and other factors, the settlement fund did not need to be replenished by the Company with any additional amounts over and above the initial settlement payment. The residual funds from the settlement fund, totaling approximately $1,717, have been returned to the Company, of which 45% has been returned by the Company to the Company's insurer. Accordingly, the actual expense to the Company for the Ellison Action was $1,800.
(c) | On August 10, 2005, following the conclusion of an audit of the Company conducted by auditors for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“U.S. Customs”) during 2004 and 2005, U.S. Customs issued a report that asserts that certain commissions that the Company treated as “buying agents’ commissions” (which are non-dutiable) should be treated as “selling agents’ commissions” and hence are dutiable. Subsequently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified the Company’s legal counsel that a formal investigation of the Company’s importing practices had been commenced as a result of the audit. In September 2007, U.S. Customs notified the Company that it had finalized its assessment of the underpaid duties at $1,400. The Company, with the advice of legal counsel, evaluated the liability in the case, including additional duties, interest and penalties, and believed that it was not likely to exceed $3,045, and accordingly, a liability for this amount was recorded as of December 31, 2009. The Company contested the conclusions of the U.S. Customs audit and filed a request for review and issuance of rulings thereon by U.S. Customs Headquarters, of Regulations and Rulings, under internal advice procedures. On September 20, 2010, U.S. Customs issued a ruling in the matter, concluding that the commissions paid by the Company pursuant to buying agreements entered into by the Company and one of its two buying agents under review were bona fide buying-agent commissions and, therefore, were non-dutiable. With respect to the second buying agent, U.S. Customs also ruled that beginning in February 2002, commissions paid by the Company were bona fide buying agent commissions and, therefore, were
Note O – Commitments, Contingencies and Other (continued) non-dutiable. However, U.S. Customs found that the Company’s pre-2002 buying agreements with the second agent were legally insufficient to substantiate a buyer-buyer’s agent relationship between the Company and the agent and that commissions paid to the second agent under such buying agreements, in fact, were dutiable. On the basis of the U.S. Customs ruling, the Company reevaluated the liability in the case and believes that it is not likely to exceed $1,248 and the liability was reduced from $3,045 to such amount as of September 30, 2010. On November 21, 2011, U.S. Customs issued a pre-penalty notice to the Company in which it alleges that gross negligence by the Company resulted in an underpayment of duties with respect to certain pre-2002 buying agreements and claims that the Company owes $342 as an additional duty and $1,367 in monetary penalties. In its February 16, 2012 response to the pre-penalty notice, the Company submitted that it owes no additional duty and, further, did not through negligence or gross negligence fail to pay any duty or engage in conduct amounting to either gross negligence or negligence. The Company requested that U.S. Customs withdraw its proposal to issue a notice of penalty and take no further adverse action against the Company. In the event that U.S. Customs is not inclined to withdraw the pre-penalty notice after review of the Company’s response, the Company has requested the opportunity to make an oral presentation to U.S. Customs prior to the issuance of a notice of penalty. In the event that U.S. Customs determines to issue a notice of penalty, the Company intends to file a petition for relief requesting a reduction of the level of culpability and mitigation of the penalty amount assessed. The maximum total amount of damages related to this matter is approximately $1,700 for which the Company has accrued $1,248.
(d) | The Company has been named as a defendant in certain other lawsuits in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, after consulting with legal counsel, the liabilities, if any, resulting from these matters should not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. It is the policy of management to disclose the amount or range of reasonably possible losses in excess of recorded amounts.
[2] Employment agreements: Robert Schmertz. Effective January 1, 2013, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Robert Schmertz, the Company's Brand Director, to replace an existing employment agreement that expired at the end of 2012. The new agreement, which expires on December 31, 2014, provides for an annual salary of $725. In addition, pursuant to his new employment agreement, on January 4, 2013, Mr. Schmertz received a grant of 25,000 shares of the Company's common stock subject to certain restrictions. The restricted shares were issued under the Company's 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and will vest in five substantially equal annual installments over five years commencing on the first anniversary of the date of the grant. Additional compensation and bonuses, if any, are at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Edward R. Rosenfeld. On December 31, 2012, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Edward R. Rosenfeld, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, to replace an existing employment agreement that expired on December 31, 2012. The agreement, which expires on December 31, 2015, provides for an approximate annual salary of $579 through December 31, 2013, $608 in 2014 and $638 in 2015. In addition, pursuant to his new employment agreement, Mr. Rosenfeld received a grant of 150,000 shares of the Company's common stock subject to certain restrictions. The restricted shares were issued under the Company's 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and will vest in equal annual installments over a five-year period commencing on December 1, 2013. Additional compensation and bonuses, if any, are at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Steven Madden. On January 3, 2012, the Company and its Creative and Design Chief, Steven Madden, entered into an amendment, dated as of December 31, 2011, to Mr. Madden's existing employment agreement with the Company (the “Amended Madden Agreement”). The Amended Madden Agreement, which extends the term of Mr. Madden's employment through December 31, 2023, provides for an annual base salary of approximately $7,417 in 2013, approximately $9,667 in 2014, approximately $11,917 in 2015 and approximately $10,698 in 2016 and in each year thereafter through the end of the term of employment. Effective in 2012, the Amended Madden Agreement eliminates the annual cash bonuses payable to Mr. Madden based on EBITDA and the annual cash bonus in relation to new business contained in Mr. Madden's previously existing employment agreement and provides that all future cash bonuses will be at the sole discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. Further, the Amended Madden Agreement eliminates the annual non-accountable expense allowance of up to $200 provided to Mr. Madden under the previously existing employment agreement. Pursuant to the Amended Madden Agreement, on February 8, 2012, Mr. Madden was granted 1,463,056 restricted shares of the Company's common stock valued at approximately $40,000, which will vest in equal annual installments over seven years commencing on December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2023, subject to Mr. Note O – Commitments, Contingencies and Other (continued) Madden's continued employment with the Company on each such vesting date. Pursuant to the Amended Madden Agreement, on June 30, 2012, Mr. Madden exercised his right to receive an additional restricted stock award, and on July 3, 2012 he was granted 1,893,342 restricted shares of the Company's common stock, which will vest in the same manner as the February 8, 2012 grant. As consideration for the additional restricted stock grant, Mr. Madden will receive a reduction in his annual base salary in years subsequent to 2012 as follows: approximately $4,000 in 2013, approximately $6,125 in 2014, approximately $8,250 in 2015 and approximately $7,026 in 2016 and in each year thereafter through the end of the term of employment. In addition to the opportunity for discretionary cash bonuses, the Amended Madden Agreement entitles Mr. Madden to an annual life insurance premium reimbursement of up to $200, as well as an annual stock option grant and the potential for an additional one-time stock option grant based upon achievement of certain financial performance criteria. The Amended Madden Agreement also provides for the elimination of interest accrued after December 31, 2011 on an outstanding loan in the original principal amount of $3,000 made by the Company to Mr. Madden, the extension of the maturity date of such loan until December 31, 2023, and the forgiveness of 1/10th of the principal amount of the loan, together with accrued interest, annually over a ten-year period commencing on December 31, 2014 for so long as Mr. Madden continues to be employed by the Company on each such December 31st. Arvind Dharia. On February 8, 2012, the Company and its Chief Financial Officer, Arvind Dharia, entered into an amendment of Mr. Dharia's existing employment agreement. The amendment, among other things, extends the term of Mr. Dharia's employment agreement, which was set to expire at the end of 2011, until December 31, 2014 and increases his annual base salary to $555 effective January 1, 2012 through the remainder of the term. Pursuant to the amendment, on February 8, 2012, Mr. Dharia received a restricted stock award for 15,000 restricted shares of the Company's common stock, which will vest in substantially equal annual installments over a three-year period commencing on February 8, 2013 through February 8, 2015. The agreement, as amended, provides for an annual bonus to Mr. Dharia at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Amelia Newton Varela. Effective January 1, 2014, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Amelia Newton Varela, the Company's Executive Vice President of Wholesale, to replace an existing employment agreement that expired at the end of 2013. The new agreement, which expires on December 31, 2016 provides for an annual salary of $500 through December 31, 2016 and provides the opportunity for annual cash incentive bonuses. In addition, on February 3, 2014, Ms. Varela received an option to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company's common stock on the last trading day prior to the grant. The option will vest in equal annual installments over a four-year period commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date. Awadhesh Sinha. Effective January 1, 2014, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Awadhesh Sinha, the Company's Chief Operating Officer, to replace an existing employment agreement that expired at the end of 2013. The new agreement, which expires on December 31, 2016 provides for an annual salary of $600, $630, and $661 for the three years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, and 2016 and provides the opportunity for annual cash and share based incentive bonuses. In addition, on January 15, 2014, Mr. Sinha received a grant of 29,886 shares of restricted common stock, which will vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period on each of December 15, 2014, December 15, 2015, and December 15, 2016. [3] Letters of credit: At December 31, 2013, the Company had open letters of credit for the purchase of imported merchandise of approximately $1,842. [4] License agreements: On February 9, 2011, the Company entered into a license agreement with Basic Properties America Inc. and BasicNet S.p.A, under which the Company has the right to use the Superga® trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of women's footwear. The agreement requires the Company to pay the licensor a royalty equal to a percentage of net sales and a minimum royalty in the event that specified net sales targets are not achieved. The agreement was amended on April 11, 2013 extending the original agreement through December 31, 2022. On January 1, 2010, the Company entered into a license agreement with Jones Investment Co. Inc., under which the Company has the right to use the GLO Jeans® trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of women's footwear exclusively to K-Mart. The agreement requires the Company to pay the licensor a royalty and advertising payments equal to a percentage of net sales and a minimum royalty and advertising payment in the event that specified net sales targets Note O – Commitments, Contingencies and Other (continued) are not achieved. The agreement which expired on December 31, 2012, was renewed for an additional three-year term and will now expire on December 31, 2015. Subsequently, effective December 31, 2013, the Company terminated the license agreement with Jones Investment Co. Inc. requiring Jones Investment Co. Inc. to fulfill all of its financial obligations through the year ending December 31, 2013. In September 2009, the Company entered into a license agreement with Dualstar Entertainment Group, LLC, under which the Company has the right to use the Olsenboye® trademark in connection with the marketing and sale of footwear and accessories. The agreement requires the Company to make royalty and advertising payments equal to a percentage of net sales and a minimum royalty and advertising payment in the event that specified net sales targets are not achieved. The initial term of this agreement, which expired on December 31, 2011 has been extended until December 31, 2015. On September 10, 2008, the Company entered into a license agreement with Dualstar Entertainment Group, LLC, under which the Company has the right to use the Elizabeth and James® trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of footwear. The agreement required the Company to make royalty and advertising payments equal to a percentage of net sales and a minimum royalty and advertising payment in the event that specified net sales targets were not achieved. The agreement was terminated by the Company in December of 2013 and a charge was recorded for the remainder of the guaranteed minimum payments. The cash outflows for the guaranteed minimum royalty will continue through the original contract expiration of March 31, 2015. On July 1, 2008, the Company entered into a license agreement with Jones Investment Co. Inc., under which the Company has the right to use the l.e.i.® trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of women's footwear exclusively to Wal-Mart. The agreement required the Company to pay the licensor a royalty and advertising payments equal to a percentage of net sales and a minimum royalty and advertising payment in the event that specified net sales targets are not achieved. The initial term of this agreement, which expired on December 31, 2011, was renewed for an additional three-year term, which will expire on December 31, 2014. On March 28, 2007, the Company, through its Accessories Division, entered into a license agreement to design, manufacture and distribute handbags and belts and related accessories under the DF Daisy Fuentes® and the Daisy Fuentes® brands. The agreement required the Company to pay the licensor a royalty and brand management fees based on a percentage of net sales and a minimum royalty in the event that specified net sales targets are not achieved. The agreement expired on December 31, 2012 and was not renewed. Future minimum royalty payments are $1,830 for 2014, $1,165 for 2015 through 2016, and $665 for 2017 through 2018. Royalty expenses are included in the “cost of goods sold” section of the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. [5] Related Party Transactions: On February 23, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement (the "2012 Consulting Agreement") with JLM Consultants, Inc., a company wholly-owned by John Madden, one of the Company's directors and the brother of Steven Madden, the Company's founder and Creative and Design Chief, which replaced an earlier consulting agreement (the "2004 Consulting Agreement") between the Company and JLM Consultants, Inc. that had expired by its terms on December 31, 2005 but under which JLM Consultants, Inc. had continued to provide consulting services for the consideration provided in the 2004 Consulting Agreement. Under the 2012 Consulting Agreement, Mr. Madden and JLM Consultants, Inc. will continue to provide consulting services with respect to the development of international sales of the Company. JLM Consultants, Inc. received fees and expenses of $1,310 in 2013 pursuant to the 2012 Consulting Agreement and $1,447 and $1,552 in 2012 and 2011, respectively, pursuant to the 2004 Consulting Agreement. The fees and expenses paid to JLM Consultants, Inc. in respect to 2011 were in addition to fees that Mr. Madden received for serving as a director of the Company in 2011. Subsequent to 2011, Mr. Madden no longer receives fees for his service as a director of the Company. [6] Concentrations: The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents with various major financial institutions which at times are in excess of the amount insured. In addition, the Company's marketable securities are principally held at four brokerage companies. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company did not purchase more than 10% of its merchandise from any single supplier. Total product purchases from China for the year ended December 31, 2013 were approximately 85%. Note O – Commitments, Contingencies and Other (continued) During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company did not purchase more than 10% of its merchandise from any single supplier. Total product purchases from China for the year ended December 31, 2012 were approximately 88%. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company did not purchase more than 10% of its merchandise from any single supplier. Total product purchases from China for the year ended December 31, 2011 were approximately 90%. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any customers who account for more than 10% of total net sales or 10% of total accounts receivable. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company did not have any customers who account for more than 10% of total net sales or 10% of total accounts receivable. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company did not have any customers who account for more than 10% of total net sales or 10% of total accounts receivable. Purchases are made primarily in United States dollars. [7] Valuation and qualifying accounts: The following is a summary of the allowance for chargebacks and doubtful accounts related to accounts receivable and the allowance for chargebacks related to the amount due from factor for the years ended:
| December 31,
| 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 22,437 |  |  | $ | 18,219 |  |  | $ | 15,258 |
Reductions in reserve, net | (2,025 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Increases in reserve, net | — |  |  | 4,218 |  |  | 2,961 |
Balance at end of year | $ | 20,412 |  |  | $ | 22,437 |  |  | $ | 18,219 |
The following is a summary of goodwill and the related accumulated amortization for the:
| Year Ended December 31,
| 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011
Cost basis |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 92,157 |  |  | $ | 76,193 |  |  | $ | 39,211 |
Acquisitions and purchase price adjustments | 4,573 |  |  | 15,964 |  |  | 36,982 |
Balance at end of year | 96,730 |  |  | 92,157 |  |  | 76,193 |
Accumulated amortization |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | 598 |  |  | 598 |  |  | 598 |
Balance at end of year | 598 |  |  | 598 |  |  | 598 |
Goodwill - net | $ | 96,132 |  |  | $ | 91,559 |  |  | $ | 75,595 |

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