United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2015

OR

For the Transition Period From                      to                     .

Commission file number 1-10593

 

ICONIX BRAND GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

(212) 730-0030

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)    Yes  o    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, $.001 Par Value- 48,393,703 shares as of November 3, 2015.

 

 

 

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Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except par value)

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statements

(in thousands, except earnings per share data)

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)

(in thousands, except earnings per share data)

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(in thousands)

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015

(in thousands)

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

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Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

 

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Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2015

(dollars in thousands (unless otherwise noted) except per share data)

 

 

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management of Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), all adjustments (consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months (“Current Quarter”) and the nine months (“Current Nine Months”) ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.  Additionally, restated amounts are provided for prior periods – see Note 17 for further information.

 

 

2. Trademarks and Other Intangibles, net

Trademarks and other intangibles, net, consist of the following:

 

 

In March 2015, the Company acquired the 50% interest in Iconix China held by its joint venture partner, thereby increasing its ownership interest in Iconix China to 100%. As a result of this transaction, Iconix China is now consolidated with the Company, which increased the Company’s indefinite-lived trademarks by $40.5 million. See Note 3 for further details on this transaction.

In March 2015, the Company acquired the Strawberry Shortcake brand. As a result of this transaction the Company’s indefinite-lived trademarks and licensing contracts increased by an aggregate $91.8 million. See Note 3 for further details on this transaction.

In February 2015, the Company acquired through its wholly-owned subsidiary, US Pony Holdings, LLC, the rights to the Pony brand in respect of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Immediately following such acquisition, a third party contributed specified assets to US Pony Holdings, LLC in exchange for a 25% non-controlling interest in the entity. As a result of these transactions, US Pony Holdings, LLC is consolidated with the Company, which increased the Company’s indefinite-lived trademarks and licensing contracts by $47.0 million. See Note 3 for further details on this transaction.

Amortization expense for intangible assets for the Current Quarter and for the three months ended September 30, 2014 (the “Prior Year Quarter”) was $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively.  Amortization expense for intangible assets for the Current Nine Months and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 (the “Prior Year Nine Months”) was $2.4 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

The trademarks of Candie’s, Bongo, Joe Boxer, Rampage, Mudd, London Fog, Mossimo, Ocean Pacific, Danskin, Rocawear, Cannon, Royal Velvet, Fieldcrest, Charisma, Starter, Waverly, Ecko, Zoo York, Peanuts, Ed Hardy, Sharper Image, Umbro, Modern Amusement, Buffalo, Lee Cooper, Hydraulic, Nicholas Graham, Strawberry Shortcake and Pony have been determined to have an indefinite useful life and accordingly no amortization has been recorded in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated income statements. Instead, each of these intangible assets are tested for impairment annually and, as needed, on an individual basis as separate single units of accounting, with any related impairment charge recorded to the statement of income at the time of determining such impairment. The annual evaluation of the Company’s indefinite-lived trademarks is performed as of October 1, the beginning of the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter. There was no impairment of the indefinite-lived trademarks during the Current Quarter, Current

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Nine Months, Prior Year Quarter or Prior Year Nine Months. Further, as it relates to the Company’s definite-lived trademarks, there was no impairment of the definite-lived trademarks during the Current Quarter, Current Nine Months, Prior Year Quarter and Prior Year Nine Months.

 

Based on the Company’s budgeting process for the year ending December 31, 2016, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company believes that certain intangible assets related to the men’s segment may be impaired. The Company will complete its annual impairment testing during the fourth quarter of the year ending December 31, 2015.

 

 

3. Acquisitions, Joint Ventures and Investments

Consolidated Entities

The following entities and joint ventures are consolidated with the Company:

Iconix China

In September 2008, the Company and Novel Fashions Brands Limited (“Novel”) formed a joint venture (“Iconix China”) to develop and market the Company’s brands in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (the “China Territory”). Pursuant to the terms of this transaction, the Company contributed to Iconix China substantially all rights to its brands in the China Territory and committed to contribute $5.0 million, and Novel committed to contribute $20 million, to Iconix China. Upon closing of the transaction, the Company contributed $2.0 million and Novel contributed $8.0 million. In September 2009, the parties amended the terms of the transaction to eliminate the obligation of the Company to make any additional contributions and to reduce Novel’s remaining contribution commitment to $9.0 million, $4.0 million of which was contributed in July 2010, $3.0 million of which was contributed in May 2011, and $2.0 million of which was contributed in June 2012.

In March 2015, the Company purchased from Novel its 50% interest in Iconix China for $57.4 million, of which $40.4 million was paid in cash, $15.7 million was paid in the Company’s common stock, and $1.3 million was an amount due the Company from Iconix China that was offset against the Company’s accounts receivable (the “2015 Buy-out”), thereby taking 100% of the equity interest in Iconix China. The following is a reconciliation of consideration paid to Novel:

 

 

As a result of the 2015 Buy-out, Iconix China is subject to consolidation and is included in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2015.

The estimated fair value of the assets acquired, less liabilities assumed (which is preliminary and subject to change), is allocated as follows:

 

 

Other assets consist primarily of securities of a company publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The Iconix China trademarks have been determined by management to have an indefinite useful life and accordingly no amortization is being recorded in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated income statements. The goodwill and trademarks are subject to

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a test for impairment on an annual basis. The $5.9 million of goodwill resulting from the 2015 Buy-out is deductible for income tax purposes.

For the Current Quarter and Current Nine Months, post-acquisition, the Company recognized approximately $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, in revenue from such assets. In addition, the Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $0.6 million and $1.2 million for the Current Quarter and Current Nine Months, respectively, and other income increased by $0.6 million for the Current Nine Months as a result of consolidating Iconix China on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated income statement.

As part of this transaction, the Company also acquired, through its ownership of 100% of Iconix China, equity interests in the following private companies with an aggregate fair value of approximately $42.7 million: Candies Shanghai Fashion Co. Ltd. (which can be put by Iconix China to Shanghai La Chappelle Fashion Co., Ltd. for cash based on a pre-determined formula); Mark Ecko China Ltd.; Ningbo Material Girl Fashion Co., Ltd.; Tangli International Holdings Ltd.; Ecko Industry (Shanghai) Co., Ltd; and Joe Boxer China Ltd. See section entitled “Investments in Iconix China” for further detail on such investments.

Strawberry Shortcake

In March 2015, the Company completed its acquisition from American Greetings Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc. (collectively, “AG” or the “Seller”), of all of AG’s intellectual property rights and licenses and certain other related assets relating to the Strawberry Shortcake brand pursuant to an asset purchase agreement entered into in February 2015.

In accordance with the terms of the asset purchase agreement, the Company paid the Seller $105.0 million in cash at closing.

The cash paid to the Seller and the estimated fair value of the assets acquired (which is preliminary and subject to change), is allocated as follows:

 

 

The note receivable represents amounts due from AG in respect of non-compete payments pursuant to a license agreement entered into with AG simultaneously with the closing of the transaction. The note is in the principal amount of $10.0 million and is paid in equal quarterly installments over a two year period.

For the Current Quarter and Current Nine Months, post-acquisition, the Company recognized approximately $2.6 million and $6.1 million, respectively, in revenue from such assets. The $0.5 million of goodwill resulting from the 2015 acquisition is deductible for income tax purposes.

PONY

In February 2015, the Company, through its then newly-formed subsidiary, US Pony Holdings, LLC, (“Pony Holdings”) acquired the North American rights to the PONY brand. These rights include the rights in the US obtained from Pony, Inc. and Pony International, LLC (collectively, “US Pony Seller”), and the rights in Mexico and Canada obtained from Super Jumbo Holdings Limited (“Non-US Pony Seller” and, together with US Pony Seller, the “Pony Sellers”). The purchase price paid by the Company was $37.0 million. Pony Holdings is owned 75% by the Company and 25% by its partner Anthony L&S Athletics, LLC (“ALS”). ALS contributed to Pony Holdings its perpetual license agreement in respect of the U.S. and Canadian territories for a 25% interest in Pony Holdings. Additionally, the Company received an option to purchase, until February 28, 2015, from the Pony Sellers and their affiliates certain intellectual property-related assets and trademarks related to the Pony brand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and was assigned by ALS the right to purchase from Pony Sellers and their affiliates certain intellectual property-related assets and trademarks related to the Pony brand in Latin America, which expired May 1, 2015. The Company did not exercise either of such rights.

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The following table is a reconciliation of cash paid to Pony Sellers and the fair value of ALS’s non-controlling interest (which is preliminary and subject to change):

 

 

The estimated fair value of the assets acquired is allocated as follows:

 

 

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810 - “Consolidations” (“ASC 810”) affirms that consolidation is appropriate when one entity has a controlling financial interest in another entity. The Company owns a 75% membership interest in Pony Holdings compared to the minority owner’s 25% membership interest. Further, the Company believes that the voting and veto rights of the minority shareholder are merely protective in nature and do not provide them with substantive participating rights in Pony Holdings. As such, Pony Holdings is subject to consolidation with the Company, which is reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

For the Current Quarter and Current Nine Months, post-acquisition, the Company recognized approximately $0.7 million and $1.8 million in revenue from Pony Holdings. The $0.3 million of goodwill resulting from the 2015 acquisition is deductible for income tax purposes.

Unaudited Pro Forma Information

Unaudited pro forma information for the transactions completed during the Current Nine Months is not presented because the effects of such transactions, individually and in the aggregate, are considered immaterial to the Company.

Iconix Latin America

In December 2008, the Company formed a joint venture, Iconix Latin America, with New Brands America LLC (“New Brands”), an affiliate of the Falic Group, to develop, exploit, market and license the Latin American territory comprising of Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In February 2014, the Company purchased from New Brands its 50% interest in Iconix Latin America for $42.0 million, giving the Company a 100% interest in Iconix Latin America.

Iconix Europe

In December 2009, the Company contributed substantially all rights to its wholly-owned brands in all member states and candidate states of the European Union, and certain other European countries, to Iconix Europe, a then newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Shortly thereafter, an investment group led by Albion Equity Partners LLC, purchased a 50% interest in Iconix Europe for $4 million through Brand Investments Vehicle Group 3 Limited (“BIV”). Also, as part of this transaction, Iconix Europe entered into a multi-year brand management and services agreement with The Licensing Company to assist in developing, exploiting, marketing and licensing the contributed brands in the European territory.

In January 2014, the Company consented to the purchase of BIV’s 50% ownership interest in Iconix Europe by LF Asia Limited (“LF Asia”), an affiliate of Li & Fung Limited, in exchange for $1.5 million from LF Asia. In addition, the Company acquired an additional 1% equity interest in Iconix Europe from LF Asia thereby increasing the Company’s ownership in Iconix Europe to a controlling 51% interest.

Hydraulic IP Holdings, LLC

In December 2014, the Company formed a joint venture with Top On International Group Limited (“Top On”). The name of the joint venture is Hydraulic IP Holdings, LLC (“Hydraulic IPH”), a Delaware limited liability company. The Company paid $6.0 million, which was funded entirely from cash on hand, in exchange for a 51% controlling ownership of Hydraulic IPH. Top On owns the remaining 49% interest in Hydraulic IPH. Hydraulic IPH owns the IP rights, licenses and other assets relating principally to the

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Hydraulic brand. Concurrently, Hydraulic IPH and iBrands International, LLC (“iBrands”) entered into a license agreement pursuant to which Hydraulic IPH licensed the Hydraulic brand to iBrands as licensee in certain categories and geographies. Additionally, the Company and Top On entered into a limited liability company agreement with respect to their ownership of Hydraulic IPH.

NGX, LLC

In October 2014, the Company formed a joint venture with NGO, LLC (“NGO”). The name of the joint venture is NGX, LLC (“NGX”), a Delaware limited liability company. The Company paid $6.0 million, which was funded entirely from cash on hand; in exchange for a 51% controlling ownership of NGX. NGO owns the remaining 49% interest in NGX. NGX owns the IP rights, licenses and other assets relating principally to the Nick Graham brand. Concurrently, NGX and NGL, LLC (“NGL”) entered into a license agreement pursuant to which NGX licensed the Nick Graham brand to NGL as licensee in certain categories and geographies. Additionally, the Company and NGO entered into a limited liability company operating agreement with respect to their ownership of NGX.

Buffalo Brand Joint Venture

In February 2013, Iconix CA Holdings, LLC (“ICA Holdings”), a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, formed a joint venture with Buffalo International ULC (“BII”). The name of the joint venture is 1724982 Alberta ULC (“Alberta ULC”), an Alberta, Canada unlimited liability company. The Company, through ICA Holdings, paid $76.5 million, which was funded entirely from cash on hand, in exchange for a 51% controlling ownership of Alberta ULC which consists of a combination of equity and a promissory note. BII owns the remaining 49% interest in Alberta ULC. Alberta ULC owns the IP rights, licenses and other assets relating principally to the Buffalo David Bitton brand (the “Buffalo brand”). Concurrently, Alberta ULC and BII entered into a license agreement pursuant to which Alberta ULC licensed the Buffalo brand to BII as licensee in certain categories and geographies. Additionally, ICA Holdings and BII entered into a shareholder agreement with respect to their ownership of Alberta ULC.

Icon Modern Amusement

In December 2012, the Company entered into an interest purchase and management agreement with Dirty Bird Productions, Inc., a California corporation, in which the Company effectively purchased a 51% controlling interest in the Modern Amusement trademarks and related assets for $5.0 million, which was funded entirely from cash on hand. To acquire its 51% controlling interest in the trademark, the Company formed a new joint venture company, Icon Modern Amusement LLC (“Icon MA”), a Delaware limited liability company.

Peanuts Holdings

On June 3, 2010 (the “Peanuts Closing Date”), the Company consummated an interest purchase agreement with United Feature Syndicate, Inc. (“UFS”) and The E.W. Scripps Company (the “Parent”) (Parent and UFS, collectively, the “Sellers”), pursuant to which it purchased all of the issued and outstanding interests (“Interests”) of Peanuts Worldwide, a then newly formed Delaware limited liability company, to which, prior to the closing of this acquisition, copyrights and trademarks associated with the Peanuts characters and certain other assets were contributed by UFS. On the Peanuts Closing Date, the Company assigned its right to buy all of the Interests to Peanuts Holdings, a newly formed Delaware limited liability company and joint venture owned 80% by Icon Entertainment LLC (“IE”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and 20% by Beagle Scouts LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Beagle”) owned by certain Schulz family trusts.

Further, on the Closing Date, IE and Beagle entered into an operating agreement with respect to Peanuts Holdings (the “Peanuts Operating Agreement”). Pursuant to the Peanuts Operating Agreement, the Company, through IE, and Beagle made capital contributions of $141.0 million and $34.0 million, respectively, in connection with the acquisition of Peanuts Worldwide. The Interests were then purchased for $172.1 million in cash, as adjusted for acquired working capital.

In connection with the Peanuts Operating Agreement, the Company through IE, loaned $17.5 million to Beagle (the “Beagle Note”), the proceeds of which were used to fund Beagle’s capital contribution to Peanuts Holdings in connection with the acquisition of Peanuts Worldwide. The Beagle Note bore interest at 6% per annum, with minimum principal payable in equal annual installments of approximately $2.2 million on each anniversary of June 3, 2010, with any remaining unpaid principal balance and accrued interest to be due on June 3, 2015, the Beagle Note maturity date. Principal was prepayable at any time. The Beagle Note was secured by the membership interest in Peanuts Holdings owned by Beagle. In February 2015, the remaining amount due on the Beagle Note was paid in full.

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Hardy Way

In May 2009, the Company acquired a 50% interest in Hardy Way, the owner of the Ed Hardy brands and trademarks, for $17.0 million, comprised of $9.0 million in cash and 588,688 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $8.0 million as of the closing. In addition, the sellers of the 50% interest received an additional $1.0 million in shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to an earn-out based on royalties received by Hardy Way for 2009.

On April 26, 2011, Hardy Way acquired substantially all of the licensing rights to the Ed Hardy brands and trademarks from its licensee, Nervous Tattoo, Inc. (“NT”) pursuant to an asset purchase agreement by and among Hardy Way, NT and Audigier Brand Management Group, LLC (“ABMG,” and together with NT, the “Sellers”). Immediately prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the asset purchase agreement, the Company contributed $62.0 million to Hardy Way, thereby increasing the Company’s ownership interests in Hardy Way from 50% to 85% of the outstanding membership interests.

Scion

Scion is a brand management and licensing company formed by the Company with Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter in March 2007 to buy, create and develop brands across a spectrum of consumer product categories. On November 7, 2007, Scion, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Artful Holdings LLC, purchased Artful Dodger, an urban apparel brand for a purchase price of $15.0 million.

In March 2009, the Company, through its investment in Scion, effectively acquired a 16.6% interest in one of its licensees, Roc Apparel Group LLC (“RAG”), whose principal owner is Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, for nominal consideration. The Company had determined that this entity is a variable interest entity as defined by ASC 810. However, the Company was not the primary beneficiary of this entity. The investment in this entity was accounted for under the cost method of accounting. Subsequent to March 2009, this investment in RAG was assigned from Scion to the Company. From March 2009 through January 2014, the Company and its partner contributed approximately $11.8 million to Scion, which was deposited as cash collateral under the terms of RAG’s financing agreements. In June 2010, $3.3 million was released from collateral and distributed to the Scion members equally. In July 2014, the lender under such financing arrangement made a cash collateral call, reducing the Company’s restricted cash by $8.5 million. In FY 2014, the Company recorded a $2.7 million charge to reduce this receivable to $5.8 million. RAG caused such amount to be repaid pursuant to a binding term sheet dated April 2015, which resulted in a final agreement on July 6, 2015, between the Company and the managing member of RAG. In addition, on July 6, 2015, in accordance with the terms of such final agreement, the Company sold its 16.6% interest in RAG to an affiliate of Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter for nominal consideration.

In May 2012, Scion, through a newly formed subsidiary, Scion BBC LLC, purchased a 50% interest in BBC Ice Cream LLC, owner of the Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream brands for approximately $3.5 million.

Additionally, the Company entered into a binding term sheet in April 2015, which resulted in a final agreement on July 6, 2015, in which the Company purchased the remaining 50% interest in Scion, which the Company has consolidated since inception, from an affiliate of Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter for $6.0 million, increasing the Company’s ownership to 100%, and effectively increasing its interest in BBC Ice Cream LLC to 50% and Artful Holdings LLC to 100%. In accordance with ASC 810, the Company increased additional paid-in capital by $0.8 million to reflect its 100% ownership in Scion.

Joint Ventures/Equity Method Investees

The following joint ventures are recorded using the equity method of accounting:

Iconix Middle East Joint Venture

In December 2014, the Company formed Iconix MENA (“Iconix Middle East”) a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and contributed to it substantially all rights to its wholly-owned and controlled brands in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Uganda, Yemen, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon, Gabon, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Senegal (the “Middle East Territory”). Shortly thereafter, Global Brands Group Asia Limited (“GBG”), purchased a 50% interest in Iconix Middle East for approximately $18.8 million. GBG paid $6.3 million in cash upon the closing of the transaction and committed to pay an additional $12.5 million over the 24-month period following closing. As a result of this transaction, the Company recorded a gain of $10.3 million in FY 2014 for the difference between the consideration (cash and notes receivable) received by the Company and the book value of the brands contributed to the joint venture. As of September 30, 2015, of the $12.3 million, net of discount for present value, remaining due to the Company from GBG, approximately $6.3 million is included in other assets - current and $6.0 million is included in other assets on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

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Pursuant to the joint venture agreement entered into in connection with the formation of Iconix Middle East, each of GBG and the Company holds specified put and call rights, respectively, relating to GBG’s ownership interest in the joint venture.

Company Two-Year Call Option: At an