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Acquisitions and Divestitures, Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates, and Variable Interest Entities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Variable Interest Entities[Abstract]

Acquisitions and Divestitures, Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates, and Variable Interest Entities

3. Acquisitions and Divestitures, Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates, and Variable Interest Entities

Sale of Majority Interest in Isaac Mizrahi Brand

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.

The purchase price paid by WHP to the Company at the closing of the transaction in exchange for the 70% membership interest in IM Topco consisted of $46.2 million in cash. The Company incurred approximately $0.9 million of expenses directly related to this transaction, including legal fees and agent fees, of which $0.1 million of the agent fees were paid through the issuance of 65,275 shares of the Company’s common stock, which were recognized as a reduction to the gain from the transaction. The Company recognized a net pre-tax gain from the transaction of $20.6 million, which is classified

as a component of other operating costs and expenses (income) in the consolidated statement of operations for the Prior Year.

Pursuant to the May 27, 2022 purchase agreement, the Company was also entitled to receive an “earn-out” payment in the amount of $2.0 million if, during the period from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, (i) IM Topco received Net Royalty Revenue (as defined in the purchase agreement) in an amount equal to or greater than $17.5 million and (ii) IM Topco generated EBITDA (as defined in the purchase agreement) in an amount equal to or greater than $11.8 million. These conditions were not met during 2023, and ultimately the Company did not receive any additional “earn-out” payment.

Additionally, the purchase agreement provided that, in the event IM Topco receives less than $13.347 million in aggregate royalties for any four consecutive calendar quarters over a three-year period ending on the third anniversary of the closing, WHP would be entitled to receive from the Company up to $16 million, less all amounts of net cash flow distributed to WHP for such period, as an adjustment to the purchase price, payable in either cash or equity interests in IM Topco held by the Company. This provision was subsequently amended in November 2023, as described further below, and was subsequently further amended in April 2024 (see Note 12 for additional information).

In connection with the May 27, 2022 membership purchase agreement, the Company and WHP also entered into an Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of IM Topco (the “Business Venture Agreement”) governing the operation of IM Topco as a partnership between the Company and WHP following the closing. Pursuant to the Business Venture Agreement, IM Topco is managed by a single Manager appointed by the vote of a majority-in-interest of IM Topco’s members, and WHP serves as the sole Manager of IM Topco. The Business Venture Agreement contains customary provisions for the governance of a partnership, including with respect to decision making, access to information, restrictions on transfer of interests, and covenants.

Pursuant to the Business Venture Agreement, 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:

(i)

first, 100% to WHP, until WHP has received an aggregate amount during such fiscal year equal to $8,852,000 (subject to adjustment in certain circumstances as set forth in the agreement);

(ii)

second, 100% to Xcel, until Xcel has received an aggregate amount during such fiscal year equal to $1,316,200 (subject to adjustment in certain circumstances as set forth in the agreement); and

(iii)

thereafter, in proportion to the members’ respective ownership interests.

The distribution provisions in the Business Venture Agreement were subsequently amended in April 2024 (see Note 12 for additional information).

The Company also entered into a number of other related agreements on May 31, 2022 in connection with the transaction, including a services agreement with IM Topco and a license agreement with IM Topco (see Note 11 for details), while the Company’s employment agreement with Mr. Mizrahi and the Company’s services agreement with Laugh Club (see Note 11) were transferred to IM Topco. Further, the Company’s licensing agreement with Qurate Retail Group related to the Isaac Mizrahi Brand (see Note 5) was assigned to IM Topco as of May 31, 2022.

Management assessed and evaluated the ownership structure and other terms of the May 27, 2022 membership purchase agreement and Business Venture Agreement, as well as considered the Company’s continuing involvement with the Isaac Mizrahi Brand through the aforementioned services agreement and license agreement with IM Topco, and concluded that (i) IM Topco is not a Variable Interest Entity under ASC Topic 810, and (ii) the Company has significant influence over, but does not control, IM Topco. As such, on May 31, 2022, the Company de-recognized the carrying amount of the Isaac Mizrahi Brand trademarks of $44.5 million and recognized the fair value of its retained interest in IM Topco of

approximately $19.8 million as an equity method investment. The fair value of the Company’s retained interest was determined by applying the Company’s ownership percentage to the implied enterprise value of IM Topco, which was calculated based on the price paid by WHP for the 70% controlling interest, as the May 31, 2022 sale transaction was considered an arms-length transaction between knowledgeable market participants and the most relevant and reasonable indication of value to utilize. The inputs and assumptions for this nonrecurring fair value measurement are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy defined in ASC Topic 820.

Investment in IM Topco, LLC

The Company accounts for its interest in the ongoing operations of IM Topco as a component of other operating costs and expenses (income) under the equity method of accounting. Based on the aforementioned distribution provisions set forth in the Business Venture Agreement, the Company recognized an equity method loss of approximately $2.1 and $1.2 million related to its investment for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2002, respectively. 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 all 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 to Xcel’s share of amortization expense.

Summarized financial information for IM Topco is as follows:


	For the year ended
	December 31,
($ in thousands)	2023		2022⁽¹⁾
Revenues	$	12,119	$	7,791
Gross profit		12,119		7,791
(Loss) income from continuing operations		(1,961)		316
Net (loss) income		(1,961)		316

(1)

Represents financial information for the period commencing May 31, 2022 (the date of the sale of a majority interest in IM Topco) through December 31, 2022.

During the Prior Year (subsequent to the May 27, 2022 transaction), the Company made a capital contribution to IM Topco of $0.6 million in cash, which did not change the Company’s noncontrolling ownership interest of 30%.

In November 2023, the Company, WHP, and IM Topco entered into an amendment of the May 27, 2022 membership purchase agreement, under which the parties agreed to waive the purchase price adjustment provision until the measurement period ending March 31, 2024. In exchange, Xcel agreed to make additional royalty payments to IM Topco totaling $0.45 million over the next 11 months. As a result of this amendment, the Company recognized a $0.45 million increase to the carrying value basis of its equity method investment and a corresponding increase in current liabilities.

The provisions of the membership purchase agreement were subsequently further amended in April 2024 (see Note 12 for additional information).

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 consolidated balance sheet. The Company accounts for its interest in the operations of ORME as a component of other operating costs and expenses (income) under the equity method of accounting; the Company’s proportional share of the operating results of ORME were not material in the Current Year.

Sale of Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate

The Company previously held a limited partner ownership interest in an unconsolidated affiliate, which was entered into in 2016. This investment did not have a readily determinable fair value and in accordance with ASC 820-10-35-59, the investment was valued at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes of an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. This investment was included within other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2022, at a carrying value of $0.1 million. During the Current Year, the Company sold its ownership interest in this entity, and recognized a gain of $0.36 million related to the sale within other operating costs and expenses (income) on the consolidated statement of operations.

Longaberger Licensing, LLC Variable Interest Entity

Since 2019, Xcel has been party to a limited liability company agreement (the “LLC 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.