<!--Enhanced HTML document created with Toppan Merrill Bridge  9.9.1.77--><!--Created on: 4/22/2021 09:20:17 PM (UTC)--><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"><html><head><meta charset="UTF-8"><title></title></head><body><div style="margin-top:30pt;"></div><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:5.88%;padding-right:5.88%;position:relative;"><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:18pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:18pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, DC 20549</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt 0pt 2pt 0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:18pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt 0pt 2pt 0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Pursuant to Section&#160;13 or 15 (d)</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 16, 2021</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:20pt;font-weight:bold;">XCEL BRANDS, INC.</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt 0pt 2pt 0pt;"><font 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Transfer of Listing. </b></p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt;margin:0pt;">On April 16, 2021, Xcel Brands, Inc. 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Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Item&#160;9.01</b></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:91%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Financial Statements and Exhibits.</b></p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:6pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p><div align="left"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;padding-left:0pt;padding-right:0pt;width:100%;"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:4%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:96%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:4%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">(d)</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:96%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Exhibits.</p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:6pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-left:0pt;padding-right:0pt;width:100%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;width:4.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:85.2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:10%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;width:4.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">99.1</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:85.2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="tmb-20210416xex99d1.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">Press Release of Xcel Brands, Inc. dated April 22, 2021.</font></a></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:10%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">.</p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="display:none;line-height:0pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:0pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:5.88%;margin-right:5.88%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:88.24%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:5.88%;padding-right:5.88%;position:relative;"><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">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.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p><div align="left"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;padding-left:0pt;padding-right:0pt;width:50%;"><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:7.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:1.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:13.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:1.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:77.2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5" style="vertical-align:top;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">XCEL BRANDS, INC.</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt 0pt 1pt 0pt;">(Registrant)</p></td></tr><tr style="height:18pt;"><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:7.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td colspan="4" style="vertical-align:middle;width:92.87%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:7.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">By:</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:1.24%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;width:91.62%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ James F. Haran</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:7.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:1.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:13.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Name:</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:1.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:77.2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">James F. Haran</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:7.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:1.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:13.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Title:</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:1.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:77.2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt 0pt 1pt 0pt;">Chief Financial Officer </p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;">Date: April 22, 2021</p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-left:5.88%;margin-right:5.88%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:avoid;width:88.24%;border-width:0;"></body></html>
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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 16, 2021
​
XCEL BRANDS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
​
​
​
​
​
​
Delaware
001-37527
76-0307819
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1333 Broadway, New York, New York
10018
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
​
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (347) 727-2474
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. [ ]
​
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
​
​
​
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
XELB
NASDAQ Global Select Market
​
​
​
​
Item 3.01
Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
​
On April 16, 2021, Xcel Brands, Inc. (the "Company"), received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") stating that Nasdaq has determined that the Company is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) due to the Company's failure to timely file its Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Form 10-K") for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
Nasdaq has informed the Company that the Company must submit a plan of compliance (the "Plan") within 60 calendar days addressing how it intends to regain compliance with Nasdaq's listing rules and, if Nasdaq accepts the Plan, it may grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the Form 10-K original filing due date, or until October 12, 2021, to regain compliance. The Company intends to file its Form 10-K as soon as practicable and, in any event, within the 60-day period referenced above, and thereby regain compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing requirements and eliminate the need for the Company to submit a Plan.  On April 22, 2021, the Company filed the Form 10-K.
A press release, dated April 22, 2021, disclosing the Company's receipt of the Nasdaq notification letter is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
​
​
​
​
​
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
​
​
(d)
Exhibits.
​
​
​
99.1
Press Release of Xcel Brands, Inc. dated April 22, 2021.
.
​
​
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.
XCEL BRANDS, INC.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/ James F. Haran
Name:
James F. Haran
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
​
Date: April 22, 2021