COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        (a) CONTINGENT LIABILITIES. We have been named as a defendant in various actions and proceedings, including actions brought by certain employees whose employment has been terminated arising from our ordinary business activities. Although the amount of any liability that could arise with respect to these actions cannot be accurately predicted, in our opinion, any such liability will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

        (b) ROYALTIES. We have an exclusive license to produce, market and distribute costume jewelry in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan under the Givenchy trademark pursuant to an agreement with Givenchy, which expires on December 31, 2012. The agreement requires us to pay a percentage of net sales against guaranteed minimum royalty and advertising payments as set forth in the agreement.

        We have a sub-license agreement with VCJS LLC ("VCJS") to design, develop, produce and distribute in the United States, Mexico and Canada Jessica Simpson jeanswear and sportswear under the Jessica Simpson (signature) trademark which VCJS licenses from With You, Inc. ("WYI"). The agreement, which expires on December 31, 2014 (October 15, 2014 if the master license between WYI and VCJS is not renewed), requires us to pay a percentage of net sales against guaranteed minimum royalty and pooled marketing fee payments as set forth in the agreement.

        We have an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement with BKA International, Inc. to design, develop, produce and distribute footwear and accessory products in the United States and its territories and possessions, including Puerto Rico, and Canada under the B Brian Atwood trademark. The agreement, which expires on December 31, 2016, requires us to pay a percentage of net sales against guaranteed minimum royalty and creative director fees as set forth in the agreement. The agreement contains a renewal option under certain conditions through December 31, 2021. We have paid advances of $1.8 million that will be applied against future royalties.

        We have an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement with Rafe IP Holdings LLC, a company affiliated with one of our employees, to design, develop, produce and distribute women's footwear, handbags, small leather goods and jewelry in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Korea under the Rafe and Rafe New York trademarks. The agreement, which expires on December 31, 2016, requires us to pay a percentage of net sales as set forth in the agreement. The agreement contains renewal options under certain conditions through December 31, 2026.

        We have an exclusive license to design, develop, produce and distribute footwear worldwide under the French Connection trademark pursuant to an agreement with French Connection Limited, which expires on December 31, 2012. The agreement requires us to pay a percentage of net sales against guaranteed minimum royalty as set forth in the agreement.

        We have an exclusive license to design, develop, produce and distribute footwear worldwide under the Lipsy trademark pursuant to an agreement with Lipsy Limited, which expires on March 18, 2015. The agreement requires us to pay a percentage of net sales against guaranteed minimum royalty payments as set forth in the agreement.

        Minimum payments under these license agreements are as follows.

Year Ending December 31,		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016
(In millions)
Givenchy	$	0.8	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Jessica Simpson		1.8		2.7		3.5		-		-
B Brian Atwood (1)		0.4		1.1		1.4		1.6		1.7
French Conenction		0.4		-		-		-		-
Lipsy		0.1		0.1		0.1		0.1		-
	$	3.5	$	3.9	$	5.0	$	1.7	$	1.7

(1) -  does not reflect the application of a $1.8 million advance against future royalties.

        (c) LEASES. Total rent expense charged to continuing operations for 2011, 2010 and 2009 was as follows.

Year Ended December 31,		2011			2010			2009
(In millions)
Minimum rent	$	121.7		$	108.8		$	121.5
Contingent rent		1.2			-			0.5
Less: sublease rent		(4.5	)		(2.9	)		(3.5	)
	$	118.4		$	105.9		$	118.5

        The following is a schedule by year of minimum rental payments required under operating leases:

Year Ending December 31,
(In millions)
2012	$	125.2
2013		118.5
2014		110.8
2015		98.9
2016		86.8
Later years		411.7
	$	951.9

        Certain of the leases provide for renewal options and the payment of real estate taxes and other occupancy costs. Future rental commitments for leases have not been reduced by minimum non-cancelable sublease rentals aggregating $13.3 million.