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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-underline-style: none">UNITED
STATES</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase"><B>Washington,
DC 20549</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase"><B>CURRENT
REPORT Pursuant</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase"><B>to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase"><B>Securities
Exchange Act of 1934</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify">Date of report (Date of earliest
event reported):&#9;&#9;<B>April 17, 2012</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>XCEL BRANDS, INC.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Its Charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Delaware </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</P>

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<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 59%; padding-right: 0; padding-left: 0; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">76-0307819</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 41%; padding-right: 0; padding-left: 0; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">000-31553</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0; padding-left: 0; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0; padding-left: 0; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">(Commission File Number)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

<TABLE ALIGN="CENTER" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 60%; padding-right: 0; padding-left: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B>475
    10<SUP>th</SUP> Avenue, 4<SUP>th</SUP> Floor, New York, NY</B></FONT><B> </B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 40%; padding-right: 0; padding-left: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B>10018</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0; padding-left: 0; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">(Address
    of Principal Executive Offices)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0; padding-left: 0; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">(Zip
    Code)</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(347) 727-2474</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Registrant&rsquo;s Telephone Number, Including
Area Code)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed
Since Last Report)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in">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 (<I>see </I>General Instruction A.2. below):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9;Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9;Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9;Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9;Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Item 3.02&#9;Unregistered Sales of
Equity Securities.</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1in">Item 5.02&#9;Departure
of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
Officers.</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On April 17, 2012,
pursuant to a resolution (the &ldquo;Consent&rdquo;) of the Compensation Committee of Xcel Brands, Inc. (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;),
the Company granted to the following executive officers and directors (the &ldquo;Executive Grantees&rdquo;) of the Company the
number of shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company (the &ldquo;Restricted Stock&rdquo;) set forth opposite each person&rsquo;s
name:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="width: 60%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; text-align: center">Name</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; text-align: center">Number of Shares of Restricted Stock</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(204,255,204)">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 0.8in; text-align: justify">Robert W. D&rsquo;Loren</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">700,000</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: White">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 0.8in; text-align: justify">James F. Haran</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">150,000</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(204,255,204)">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 0.8in; text-align: justify">Seth Burroughs</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">100,000</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: White">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 0.8in; text-align: justify">Marisa Gardini</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">75,000</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(204,255,204)">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 0.8in; text-align: justify">Giuseppe Falco</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">75,000</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The vesting date of
the Restricted Stock granted to Mr. D&rsquo;Loren, Mr. Haran, Mr. Burroughs and Ms. Gardini is November 15, 2012, provided, however,
that each such Executive Grantee may extend the vesting date by six-month increments in his or her sole discretion. The vesting
date of the Restricted Stock granted to Mr. Falco is May 15, 2014, provided, however, that Mr. Falco may extend the vesting date
by six-month increments in his sole discretion.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Also pursuant to the
Consent, on April 17, 2012, the Company granted 50,000 shares of Restricted Stock and options to purchase an aggregate of 75,000
shares of Common Stock (the &ldquo;Options&rdquo;) to four non-executive employees (the &ldquo;Non-Executive Grantees&rdquo;) of
the Company. The exercise price per share of the Options is $3.00, the fair market value on the grant date, and 50% of the Options
will vest on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The grants by the Company
of Restricted Stock and Options were made pursuant to the Company&rsquo;s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the &ldquo;Plan&rdquo;) and
as such no consideration was paid therefor by either the Executive Grantees or the Non-Executive Grantees. Each grant of Restricted
Stock and Options was made pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award Agreement or an Option Agreement, respectively, in each case entered
into by and between the Company and the respective grantee. A summary of the material terms of the Plan is incorporated here by
reference to the Company&rsquo;s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities &amp; Exchange Commission on March 30, 2012,
and available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">None of the issuances
referenced above were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &ldquo;Securities Act&rdquo;), and all of the
issuances referenced above qualified for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act because the Company&rsquo;s issuance
of the Restricted Stock and the Options did not involve a public offering. The offering was not a &ldquo;public offering&rdquo;
as defined in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act due to the insubstantial number of persons involved, size of the offering, manner
of the offering and number of securities offered. The Company did not undertake an offering in which it sold a high number of securities
to a high number of investors. In addition, the Executive Grantees and Non-Executive Grantees had the necessary investment intent
as required by Section 4(2) because each of them agreed to and received share certificates bearing a legend stating that such securities
are restricted pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act. This restriction ensures that these securities would not be immediately
redistributed into the market and therefore not be part of a &ldquo;public offering.&rdquo; Based on an analysis of the above factors,
the Company has met the requirements to qualify for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for this transaction.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SIGNATURES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</P>




<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">XCEL BRANDS, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%">By:&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 46%">/s/ James F. Haran</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-top: #000000 1px solid">Name: James F. Haran<BR>
Title: Chief Financial Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Date: April 18, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>



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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "XCel Brands, Inc.", "cik": "0001083220", "assigned-sic": "6794", "irs-number": "760307819", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-31553", "film-number": "12766640"}, "business-address": {"street1": "475 10TH AVENUE", "street2": "4TH FLOOR", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10018", "phone": "(347) 727-2474"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "475 10TH AVENUE", "street2": "4TH FLOOR", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10018"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "NETFABRIC HOLDINGS, INC", "date-changed": "20050516"}, {"former-conformed-name": "HOUSTON OPERATING CO", "date-changed": "19990402"}]}
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):
April 17, 2012
XCEL BRANDS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
76-0307819
000-31553
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
(Commission File Number)
475
    10
th
Avenue, 4
th
Floor, New York, NY
10018
(Address
    of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip
    Code)
(347) 727-2474
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including
Area Code)
(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):
o
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 3.02	Unregistered Sales of
Equity Securities.
Item 5.02	Departure
of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
Officers.
On April 17, 2012,
pursuant to a resolution (the "Consent") of the Compensation Committee of Xcel Brands, Inc. (the "Company"),
the Company granted to the following executive officers and directors (the "Executive Grantees") of the Company the
number of shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company (the "Restricted Stock") set forth opposite each person's
name:
Name
Number of Shares of Restricted Stock
Robert W. D'Loren
700,000
James F. Haran
150,000
Seth Burroughs
100,000
Marisa Gardini
75,000
Giuseppe Falco
75,000
The vesting date of
the Restricted Stock granted to Mr. D'Loren, Mr. Haran, Mr. Burroughs and Ms. Gardini is November 15, 2012, provided, however,
that each such Executive Grantee may extend the vesting date by six-month increments in his or her sole discretion. The vesting
date of the Restricted Stock granted to Mr. Falco is May 15, 2014, provided, however, that Mr. Falco may extend the vesting date
by six-month increments in his sole discretion.
Also pursuant to the
Consent, on April 17, 2012, the Company granted 50,000 shares of Restricted Stock and options to purchase an aggregate of 75,000
shares of Common Stock (the "Options") to four non-executive employees (the "Non-Executive Grantees") of
the Company. The exercise price per share of the Options is $3.00, the fair market value on the grant date, and 50% of the Options
will vest on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date.
The grants by the Company
of Restricted Stock and Options were made pursuant to the Company's 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and
as such no consideration was paid therefor by either the Executive Grantees or the Non-Executive Grantees. Each grant of Restricted
Stock and Options was made pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award Agreement or an Option Agreement, respectively, in each case entered
into by and between the Company and the respective grantee. A summary of the material terms of the Plan is incorporated here by
reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission on March 30, 2012,
and available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
None of the issuances
referenced above were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and all of the
issuances referenced above qualified for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act because the Company's issuance
of the Restricted Stock and the Options did not involve a public offering. The offering was not a "public offering"
as defined in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act due to the insubstantial number of persons involved, size of the offering, manner
of the offering and number of securities offered. The Company did not undertake an offering in which it sold a high number of securities
to a high number of investors. In addition, the Executive Grantees and Non-Executive Grantees had the necessary investment intent
as required by Section 4(2) because each of them agreed to and received share certificates bearing a legend stating that such securities
are restricted pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act. This restriction ensures that these securities would not be immediately
redistributed into the market and therefore not be part of a "public offering." Based on an analysis of the above factors,
the Company has met the requirements to qualify for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for this transaction.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
XCEL BRANDS, INC.
By:
/s/ James F. Haran
Name: James F. Haran
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: April 18, 2012