UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 13, 2017

 

 

ICONIX BRAND GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-10593   11-2481903

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1450 Broadway, New York, New York   10018
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 730-0030

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

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.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On December 18, 2017, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Iconix Brand Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), appointed F. Peter Cuneo, the current Chairman of the Board, as Executive Chairman of the Board.

As Executive Chairman, Mr. Cuneo will be focused on evaluating strategic opportunities, overseeing the financial and legal functions and working towards stabilizing the Company’s balance sheet.

John N. Haugh will continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and will remain focused on the core licensing and brand management functions.

Pursuant to an employment agreement dated as of December 18, 2017 (the “Employment Agreement”) between the Company and Mr. Cuneo, as Executive Chairman of the Board, commencing January 1, 2018, Mr. Cuneo will receive a yearly salary equal to $490,000, $80,000 of which will be paid on January 1, 2018, and the remainder of such salary (in an amount equal to $410,000 ($34,167 per month)), shall be paid to Mr. Cuneo in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices and policies then in effect and prorated for any partial period. Either the Company or Mr. Cuneo may terminate his employment as Executive Chairman for any reason or for no reason; provided that Mr. Cuneo shall provide 30 days notice prior to any such termination. The foregoing summary of the Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Employment Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

F. Peter Cuneo, 73, has served as Chairman of the Company’s Board since January 2017. Prior to that, he served as the Company’s Executive Chairman from April 2016 until December 2016, and as the Company’s Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer from August 2015 until April 2016. Mr. Cuneo has served on the Company’s Board of Directors since October 2006. From June 2004 through December 2009 Mr. Cuneo served as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (“Marvel Entertainment”), a publicly traded entertainment company active in motion pictures, television, publishing, licensing and toys, and prior thereto, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Marvel Entertainment from July 1999 to December 2002. Mr. Cuneo has also served as the Chairman of Cuneo & Co., L.L.C., a private investment firm, since July 1997 and previously served on the Board of Directors of WaterPik Technologies, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange company engaged in designing, manufacturing and marketing health care products, swimming pool products and water-heating systems, prior to its sale in 2006. From October 2004 to December 2005, he served on the Board of Directors of Majesco Entertainment Company, a provider of video game products primarily for the family oriented, mass market consumer. Mr. Cuneo received a Bachelor of Science degree from Alfred University in 1967 and served as the Chairman of the Alfred University Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2013. Mr. Cuneo received a Masters degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1973. Mr. Cuneo was a naval officer and veteran of the Vietnam War. The Board of Directors believes that Mr. Cuneo’s extensive business and financial background and significant experience as an executive of Marvel Entertainment, an owner and licensor of iconic intellectual property, contributes important expertise to the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On December 18, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Peter Cuneo as Executive Chairman of the Board. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The information under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such information shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.


Item 8.01 Other Events.

On December 13, 2017, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, Icon DE Intermediate Holdings LLC, Icon Brand Holdings LLC, Icon DE Holdings LLC and Icon NY Holdings LLC (together, the “Co-Issuers”), received a waiver of default and event of default through January 28, 2018 (the “Waiver”) pursuant to the Base Indenture dated as of November 29, 2012 (as supplemented or amended from time to time, the “Base Indenture”) by and among the Co-Issuers and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”) and securities intermediary. The Waiver is limited solely to the default arising from the Company’s previously disclosed failure to timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2017 (the “10-Q”) and to deliver the financial statements to be contained in the 10-Q (the “Third Quarter Financial Statements”) as required pursuant to the Base Indenture (the “Default”). The Waiver provides the Company with additional time to deliver the Third Quarter Financial Statements and aligns the cure period for the Default with the cure period granted to the Company under the Management Agreement dated as of November 29, 2012 by and among the Co-Issuers, the Company and the Trustee. The Default will be cured by the Company’s filing of the 10-Q prior to January 28, 2018 and its delivery of the Third Quarter Financial Statements as required pursuant to the Base Indenture.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

10.1    Executive Employment Agreement by and between F. Peter Cuneo and the Company entered into as of December 18, 2017.
99.1    Press Release dated December 18, 2017.


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Executive Employment Agreement by and between F. Peter Cuneo and the Company entered into as of December 18, 2017.
99.1    Press Release dated December 18, 2017.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

ICONIX BRAND GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jason Schaefer

Name:  

Jason Schaefer

Title:   Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Date: December 18, 2017

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 18, 2017, by and between Iconix Brand Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Peter Cuneo (the “Executive”).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive, and the Executive desires to be employed by the Company, pursuant to the terms as provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

1.      Engagement of Executive; Duties. During the Term (as hereinafter defined in Section 3 below), the Executive shall have the title of Executive Chairman of the Company, and shall have the authorities, duties and responsibilities customarily exercised by an individual serving in this position in a corporation of the size and nature of the Company, including, without limitation, overseeing the Company’s financial and legal functions, leading the refinancing of the Company’s Convertible Notes due in March 2018 and the Company’s pursuit of strategic alternatives and such other authorities, duties and responsibilities as may be from time to time delegated to him by the Board. The Executive shall faithfully and diligently discharge his duties hereunder and use his best efforts to implement the policies established by the Company. The Executive shall report to the Board.

2.      Time. The Executive shall devote such amount of his professional time to the business affairs of the Company as may be required to fulfill the duties of the Executive set forth under Section 1 hereof.

3.      Term. The Executive’s engagement shall be effective as of the date hereof (the “Commencement Date”) and shall continue until terminated by either party pursuant to Section 5 hereof (the “Term”).

 

4. Compensation.

 

(a) Salary .

The Executive’s base salary for the Term will be at a rate of not less than $490,000 per annum, commencing January 1, 2018 (the salary set forth herein shall be referred to as the “Salary”); provided, however, that an amount equal to $80,000 of such Salary shall be paid to the Executive on January 1, 2018 and the remainder of such Salary (in an amount equal to $410,000 ($34,167 per month)), shall be paid to the Executive in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices and policies then in effect and prorated for any partial period.


(b) Reimbursement of Expenses .

The Company shall pay to the Executive the reasonable expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder, including, without limitation, expenses related to cell phones, smartphones and laptop computers and such other expenses incurred in connection with business related travel or entertainment in accordance with the Company’s policy, or, if such expenses are paid directly by the Executive, the Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive for such payments, provided that the Executive (i) properly accounts for such expenses in accordance with the Company’s policy and (ii) has received prior approval by the Board for major expenses.

 

5. Termination of Employment.

 

(a) General .

Either the Company or the Executive may terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason or for no reason by delivering written notice of termination to the other party; provided , however, that the Executive shall provide no less than thirty (30) days’ notice before the effective date of the Executive’s termination of this Agreement, which date shall be specified in the notice of termination.

 

(b) Compensation Upon Termination . In the event of any such termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall receive from the Company: (A) any earned but unpaid Salary through the date of termination, paid in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices; (B) reimbursement for any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred and paid in accordance with Section 4(c) through the date of termination; and (C) such vested accrued benefits, and other payments, if any, as to which the Executive (and his eligible dependents) may be entitled under, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, the employee benefit arrangements, plans and programs of the Company as of the date of termination, other than any severance pay plan, and the Company shall have no further obligation with respect to this Agreement.

6.      Confidentiality . The  Executive shall not divulge to anyone, either during or at any time after the Term, any information constituting a trade secret or other confidential information acquired by him concerning the Company, any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company, except in the performance of his duties hereunder, including but not limited to its licensees, revenues, business systems and processes (“Confidential Information”). The Executive acknowledges that any Confidential Information is of great value to the Company, and upon the termination of his employment, the Executive shall redeliver to the Company all Confidential Information and other related data in his possession.

 

2


7.      Indemnification . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Executive against any and all expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with or arising out of (a) the defense of any action, suit or proceeding in which he is a party, or (b) any claim asserted or threatened against him, in either case by reason of or relating to his being or having been an employee, officer or director of the Company, whether or not he continues to be such an employee, officer or director at the time of incurring such expenses, except insofar as such indemnification is prohibited by law. Such expenses shall include, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of attorneys, amounts of judgments and amounts of any settlements; provided that such expenses are agreed to in advance by the Company. The foregoing indemnification obligation is independent of any similar obligation provided in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, and shall apply with respect to any matters attributable to periods prior to the date of this Agreement, and to matters attributable to the Executive’s employment hereunder, without regard to when asserted.

 

8. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with those laws. The Company and the Executive unconditionally consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York State Supreme Court, County of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York located in the borough of Manhattan, for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and agree not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts), and further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail to the address set forth below shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding brought against the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, in any such court.

 

(b) The Executive may not delegate his duties or assign his rights hereunder. No rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the Company other than pursuant to a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the continuing entity, or a sale, liquidation or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, provided that the assignee or transferee is the successor to all or substantially all of the assets or businesses of the Company and assumes the liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company under this Agreement, either contractually or by operation of law. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Company” shall include the Company and, subject to the foregoing, any of its successors and assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

 

(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. This Agreement reflects the entire understanding between the parties.

 

(d) This Agreement supersedes any and all other agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the employment of the Executive by the Company and contains all of the covenants and agreements between the parties with respect to such employment in any manner whatsoever. Any modification or termination of this Agreement will be effective only if it is in writing signed by the party to be charged.

 

3


(e) This Agreement may be executed by the parties in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto.

9.      Notices. All notices relating to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by telecopy (receipt confirmed) or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to be delivered at such address as is indicated below, or at such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notice shall be effective when so personally delivered, one business day after being sent by telecopy or five days after being mailed.

To the Company:

Iconix Brand Group, Inc.

1450 Broadway, 3 rd Floor

New York, New York 10018

Attention: Mark Friedman, Chairperson, Compensation Committee

To the Executive:

Peter Cuneo

114 E. 72 nd Street, Penthouse B

New York, NY 10021

[Signature Page Follows]

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement as of the 18th day of December, 2017.

 

Iconix Brand Group, Inc.       Executive
By:   

/s/ Mark Friedman

     

/s/ Peter Cuneo

  

Mark Friedman

Chairperson, Compensation Committee

      Peter Cuneo

[Signature Page to P. Cuneo Employment Agreement]

 

5

Exhibit 99.1

Page 1 of 2

Peter Cuneo to Assume Role of Executive Chairman

New York, New York – Dec. 18, 2017 – Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICON) (“Iconix” or the “Company”) today announced that current Chairman of the Board, Peter Cuneo, will assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective immediately.

As Executive Chairman, Mr. Cuneo will be focused on evaluating strategic opportunities, overseeing the financial and legal functions and working towards stabilizing the Company’s balance sheet.

John Haugh will continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and will remain focused on the core licensing and brand management functions.

Mr. Haugh stated, “Peter Cuneo is a recognized leader in business turnarounds with intimate knowledge of the Iconix operating model. I am thrilled to have Peter rejoin the management team of the Company in his new role as Executive Chairman of the Board. Peter’s involvement will free up more time for me to focus on our core licensing business while evolving the Company to generate future growth.”

Mr. Cuneo stated, “Iconix is going through a challenging time right now, and we need to be laser focused on building the core business operations, while we also evaluate strategic opportunities and work towards a balance sheet solution. By defining the role of Executive Chairman, and increasing my involvement in the strategic and financial direction of Iconix, the Board has recognized the importance of having our CEO, John Haugh, dedicate the bulk of his time to driving growth within our brand portfolio.”

Mr. Cuneo has served on Iconix’ Board since October 2006 and previously held the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer from August 2015 to April 2016. Peter Cuneo is a recognized leader in business turnarounds. Since 1983, he has completed seven turnarounds of distressed branded businesses in the global entertainment and consumer products sectors. He is an expert in media and IP related industries.

About Iconix Brand Group, Inc.

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. owns, licenses and markets a portfolio of consumer brands including: CANDIE’S (R), BONGO (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), MOSSIMO (R), LONDON FOG (R), OCEAN PACIFIC (R), DANSKIN (R), ROCAWEAR (R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R), WAVERLY (R), ZOO YORK (R), UMBRO (R), LEE COOPER (R), ECKO UNLTD. (R), MARC ECKO (R), and ARTFUL DODGER. In addition, Iconix owns interests in the MATERIAL GIRL (R), ED HARDY (R), TRUTH OR DARE (R), MODERN AMUSEMENT (R), BUFFALO (R) and PONY (R) brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments, Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include projections regarding the Company’s beliefs and expectations about future performance and, in some cases, may be identified by words like “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,”


Page 2 of 2

 

“may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “future,” “will,” “seek” and similar terms or phrases. These statements are based on the Company’s beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on information available as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement and could harm the Company’s business, prospects, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition and cause its stock price to decline significantly. Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: the ability of the Company’s licensees to maintain their license agreements or to produce and market products bearing the Company’s brand names, the Company’s ability to retain and negotiate favorable licenses, the Company’s ability to meet its outstanding debt obligations and the events and risks referenced in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in other documents filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, business development transactions, joint ventures or investments we may enter into or make in the future. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

# #

Contact Information:

Jaime Sheinheit

VP, Investor Relations

Iconix Brand Group, Inc.

jsheinheit@iconixbrand.com

212.819.2096