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Related Party Transactions
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

11.    Related Party Transactions

Isaac Mizrahi

On February 24, 2020, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Isaac Mizrahi, a principal stockholder of the Company, for Mr. Mizrahi to continue to serve as Chief Design Officer of the Isaac Mizrahi Brand. This employment agreement remained in effect through May 31, 2022. On May 31, 2022, this agreement was transferred to IM Topco as part of the transaction in which the Company sold a majority interest in the Isaac Mizrahi Brand trademarks to a third party (see Note 2 for details).

The term of the employment agreement with Mr. Mizrahi was to expire on December 31, 2022, subject to earlier termination or extension. Mr. Mizrahi’s annual base salary was $1.8 million, $2.0 million, and $2.1 million per annum during the term of the agreement, subject to adjustment in the event Mr. Mizrahi did not make a specified number of appearances on Qurate’s QVC channel. Mr. Mizrahi was eligible to receive an annual cash bonus (the “Bonus”) up to an amount equal to $2.5 million less base salary for 2020 and $3.0 million less base salary for 2021 and 2022, consisting of the DRT Revenue Bonus, the Brick-and-Mortar Bonus, the Endorsement Bonus, and the Monday Bonus, if any, as determined in accordance with the following:

“DRT Revenue Bonus” means for any calendar year an amount equal to 10% of the aggregate net revenue related to sales of Isaac Mizrahi Brand products through direct response television. The DRT Revenue Bonus shall be reduced by the amount of the Monday Bonus.
“Brick-and-Mortar Bonus” means for any calendar year an amount equal to 10% of the net revenues from sales of products under the Isaac Mizrahi Brand, excluding DRT revenue and endorsement revenues.
“Endorsement Bonus” means for any calendar year an amount equal to 40% of revenues derived from projects undertaken by the Company with one or more third parties solely for Mr. Mizrahi to endorse the third party’s products through the use of Mr. Mizrahi’s name, likeness, and/or image, and neither the Company nor Mr. Mizrahi provides licensing or design.
“Monday Bonus” means $10,000 for each appearance by Mr. Mizrahi on the QVC channel on Mondays (subject to certain expectations) up to a maximum of 40 such appearances in a calendar year.

The employment agreement also included severance provisions. In the event Mr. Mizrahi’s employment was terminated by the Company without “cause,” or if Mr. Mizrahi resigned with “good reason,” then Mr. Mizrahi would have been entitled to receive his unpaid base salary and cash bonuses through the termination date and an amount equal to his base salary in effect on the termination date for the longer of six months and the remainder of the then-current term, but in no event exceeding 18 months.

Additionally, during the term of Mr. Mizrahi’s employment by the Company and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment (unless his employment was terminated without “cause” or was terminated by him for “good reason”), Mr. Mizrahi may not permit his name to be used by or to participate in any business or enterprise (other than the mere passive ownership of not more than 3% of the outstanding stock of any class of a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market) that engages or proposes to engage in the Company’s business anywhere in the world other than the Company and its subsidiaries. Also during his employment and for a one-year period after the termination of such employment, Mr. Mizrahi may not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce, or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any or its subsidiaries; or solicit, induce, or attempt to induce any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, a corporate officer, general manager, or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or hire any such person unless such person’s employment was terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, employee, or business relation and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

On February 24, 2020, the Company also entered into a services agreement with Laugh Club, an entity wholly-owned by Mr. Mizrahi, pursuant to which Laugh Club provided services to Mr. Mizrahi necessary for Mr. Mizrahi to perform his services pursuant to the employment agreement. The Company paid Laugh Club an annual fee of $0.72 million for such services. This services agreement remained in effect through May 31, 2022. On May 31, 2022, this agreement was transferred to IM Topco as part of the transaction in which the Company sold a majority interest in the Isaac Mizrahi Brand trademarks to a third party (see Note 2 for details).

In addition, on May 31, 2022, all 522,500 unvested shares of restricted stock of the Company held by Mr. Mizrahi (for which all stock-based compensation expense had been previously recognized in prior periods) were immediately vested, with 240,000 of such shares being surrendered for cancellation in satisfaction of withholding tax obligations. Also on May 31, 2022, the Company issued 33,557 additional shares of common stock of the Company (valued at $50,000) to Mr. Mizrahi, which vested immediately, and made a $100,000 cash payment to Mr. Mizrahi.

IM Topco, LLC

The Company holds a noncontrolling interest in IM Topco, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. 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 ends December 31, 2026, and provides guaranteed royalties to IM Topco of $400,000 per year. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recognized royalty expense related to this agreement of $31,000.