Kartoon Studios, Inc. - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

For the transition period from ___________ to ___________

000-54389

Commission file number

GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

190 N. Canon, 4^th Fl.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

310-273-4222

(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

____________________________

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes  o   No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes  o   No  x

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 past 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, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit 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 small reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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. o

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

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 28, 2019 (the last business day of the most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $12,658,092, computed by reference to the last sale price of $1.39 for the common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market reported for such date.

As of March 29, 2020, there were 29,592,229 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

Genius Brands International, Inc.

Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (including the section regarding Management's Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operation) contains forward-looking statements regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions or variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not deemed to represent an all-inclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements as denoted in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additionally, statements concerning future matters are forward-looking statements. These statements include, among other things, statements regarding:

Although forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences in results and outcomes include, without limitation, those specifically addressed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. below, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and our electronic filings with the SEC (including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to these reports) are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as required by law. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout the entirety of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are designed to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

PART I

Overview

Genius Brands International, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) is a global content and brand management company that creates and licenses multimedia content. Led by experienced industry personnel, we distribute our content in all formats as well as a broad range of consumer products based on our characters. In the children's media sector, our portfolio features “content with a purpose” for toddlers to tweens, which provides enrichment as well as entertainment. New intellectual property titles include the preschool property Rainbow Rangers, which debuted in November 2018 on Nickelodeon and which was renewed for a second season and preschool property Llama Llama, which debuted on Netflix in January 2018 and was renewed by Netflix for a second season. Our library titles include the award winning Baby Genius, adventure comedy Thomas Edison's Secret Lab® and Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club, created with and starring iconic investor Warren Buffett which is distributed across our Genius Brands Network on Comcast’s Xfinity on Demand, AppleTV, Roku, Amazon Fire, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Cox, Dish, Sling and Zumo as well as Connected TV. We are also developing an all-new animated series, Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten with Stan Lee's Pow! Entertainment.

In addition, we act as licensing agent for Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House LLC who owns or controls the underlying rights to Llama Llama, leveraging our existing licensing infrastructure to expand this brand into new product categories, new retailers, and new territories.

Our Products

Original Content

We own and produce original content that is meant to entertain and enrich toddlers to tweens as well as families. It is generally a three-year cycle from the inception of an idea, through production of the content and development and distribution of a range of consumer products to retail, creating an inevitable lag time between the creation of the intellectual property to the realization of economic benefit of those assets. Our goal is to maintain a robust and diverse portfolio of brands, appealing to various interests and ages, featuring evergreen topics with global appeal. Our portfolio of intellectual property can be licensed, re-licensed, and potentially exploited for years to come, with revenue derived from multiple sources and territories. Our portfolio of original content includes:

Content in Production

Rainbow Rangers Season 2: From Shane Morris, the writer of Frozen, and Rob Minkoff, the director of The Lion King, Rainbow Rangers is an animated series about the adventures of seven magical girls from Kaleidoscopia, a fantastic land on the other side of the rainbow. The Rangers serve as Earth’s guardians and first-responders. When there’s trouble for the people or animals of the Earth, the Rangers ride a rainbow across the sky to save the day. We have partnered with Mattel Inc.’s Fisher Price Toys as the master toy partner for the series, and Viacom’s Nick Jr. has licensed the series for broadcast in the US. Nick Jr. ordered a second season of Rainbow Rangers and we have delivered the first 13 half hours. International broadcast agreements are currently being negotiated in numerous territories.

Content in Development

Superhero Kindergarten: In conjunction with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Oak Productions and Alibaba we are developing an animated pre-school series with the current title of “Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten.” Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten tells the story of a classroom, led by a former superhero/teacher voiced by Mr. Schwarzenegger, filled with kids with superpowers and how they learn to use those powers to fight against the forces of evil while still dealing with all of the issues that come from being 6 years old.

Baby Genius: For more than ten years, Baby Genius has earned worldwide recognition for creating award-winning products for toddlers. Its catalogue of 500 songs, 125 music videos, and toys features classic nursery rhymes, learning songs, classical music, holiday favorites and more. Recognizing a need in the marketplace for established pre-school content, the Baby Genius channel was launched featuring the award-winning collection of Baby Genius Videos along with third party content providers sharing the Genius Brands “Content with a Purpose” message. The Baby Genius brand is synonymous with safe, enriching content for preschoolers and is being re-launched as a life style brand incorporating a new website, content and consumer products designed with today’s family in mind.

Already Released Content

Rainbow Rangers: We completed 26 half hour episodes in February of 2019 and the series premiered on Nick Jr. in November 2018. The series was created by Shane Morris, the co-writer of Frozen, and Rob Minkoff, the director of The Lion King, Rainbow Rangers is an animated series about the adventures of seven magical girls from Kaleidoscopia, a fantastic land on the other side of the rainbow. The Rangers serve as Earth’s guardians and first-responders. When there’s trouble for the people or animals of the Earth, the Rangers ride a rainbow across the sky to save the day. A global licensing program is in place and the first products were introduced to the market in the second quarter of 2019.

Llama Llama: We completed production of fifteen half-hour animated episodes in 2017 which premiered on Netflix in early 2018. Llama Llama’s creators include Oscar-winning director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), director Saul Blinkoff (Doc McStuffins), showrunner Joe Purdy, art director Ruben Aquino (Frozen) and Emmy-winning producers Jane Startz and Andy Heyward. Based on the NY Times #1 best-selling children’s books of the same name, the animated series centers on young Llama Llama’s first steps in growing up and facing childhood milestones. Each episode is structured around a childhood milestone and a life lesson learned by Llama Llama and his friends, told with a sense of humor, vitality, and understanding.

Llama Llama Season 2: We completed production of ten half-hour animated episodes in 2019 which were delivered to Netflix in September 2019. Back for Season 2 are Llama Llama’s creators including Oscar-winning director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), director Saul Blinkoff (Doc McStuffins), showrunner Joe Purdy, art director Ruben Aquino (Frozen) and Emmy-winning producers Jane Startz and Andy Heyward. Based on the NY Times #1 best-selling children’s books of the same name, the animated series centers on young Llama Llama’s first steps in growing up and facing childhood milestones. Each episode is structured around a childhood milestone and a life lesson learned by Llama Llama and his friends, told with a sense of humor, vitality, and understanding.

SpacePop: SpacePop is a music and fashion driven animated property that has garnered over 17 million views and over 63,000 subscribers since its launch in May 2016. With 108 three-minute webisodes produced, SpacePop had a best-in-class production team which included Steve Banks (head writer and story editor of Sponge Bob Square Pants) as content writer; Han Lee (Pink Fizz, Bobby Jack) for original character designs; multiple Grammy Award-winning producer and music veteran Ron Fair (Fergie, Mary J. Blige, Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls, Christina Aguilera and more), singer-songwriter Stefanie Fair (founding member of RCA’s girl group Wild Orchid with Fergie) for the original SpacePop theme music; and veteran music producer and composer John Loeffler (Kidz Bop, Pokemon) for original songs. SpacePop products range from apparel and accessories, to beauty, cosmetics, candy, books and music.

Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab: Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab is a STEM-based comedy adventure series by Emmy-nominated writer Steve Banks (SpongeBob Square Pants), multi-Emmy Award-winning writer Jeffrey Scott (Dragon Tales), and Emmy Award-winning producer Mark Young (All Dogs Go To Heaven 2). The series includes 52 eleven-minute episodes as well as 52 ninety-second original music videos produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Ron Fair. The animated series follows the adventures of Angie, a 12-year-old prodigy who, along with her young science club, discovers Thomas Edison’s secret lab.

Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaire’s Club: With 26 thirty-minute episodes and 26 four-minute webisodes, this animated series features Warren Buffett who acts as a mentor to a group of entrepreneurial kids who have international adventures that lead them to encounter neighborhood and community problems to solve. Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaire’s Club empowers kids by helping them learn about the business of life and the importance of developing healthy life habits at an early age.

Licensed Content

In addition to the wholly-owned or partially-owned properties listed above, we represent Llama Llama in the licensing and merchandising space.

Genius Brands Network

Recognizing the need for a safe destination devoted to providing educational, engaging, and entertaining "Content with a Purpose" to kids and families, we launched the Genius Brands Network, comprised of the Kid Genius Cartoon Network and Baby Genius TV. The network is distributed on an advertiser supported video-on-demand (“AVOD”) and subscription video-on-demand (“SVOD”) basis and is ubiquitously available with cable and satellite providers (such as Comcast), OTT platforms (such as Roku), and mobile devices (such as Apple).  We are now available in over 100 million homes and 200 million mobile devices. 

The Kid Genius Cartoon Network provides quality programming for kids 6 - 11. Our Kid Genius Cartoon Network presents kids with new and intriguing subjects that stimulate their senses and imagination during every viewing. We believe that parents will enjoy their kids being entertained and learning from our enriching and educational series. Featured series include, Genius-owned perennial favorites Thomas Edison's Secret Lab and Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club, as well as content from third-party producers from around the world.

Baby Genius TV provides enriching and entertaining content for toddlers through preschoolers, where lessons are learned through music, laughter, and colorful characters that ignite their imaginations. Our programming includes Baby Genius, Amber the Ambulance, Dino the Dinosaur, Shark Academy, and others.

The Kid Genius Cartoon Channel Plus was launched in September 2017 on Amazon Prime. Kid Genius Cartoon Channel Plus is a subscription video-on-demand service available for $3.99 per month to the approximately 100 million US Amazon Prime members that combines our Kid Genius and Baby Genius channels into one premium offering.

Distribution

Content

Today’s global marketplace and the manner in which content is consumed has evolved to a point where we believe there is only one viable strategy, ubiquity. Kids today expect to be able to watch what they want whenever they want and wherever they want. As such, content creators now must offer direct access on multiple fronts. This includes not only linear broadcast but also digital platforms. We have strong ties to and actively solicit placement for our content from large linear broadcasters such as Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, Sprout, and PBS. Similarly, on the digital side, we are partnered with Comcast’s Xfinity platform as well as AppleTV, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire, Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube, Cox, Dish, Sling and Zumo as well as Connected TV. We replicate this model of ubiquity around the world defining content distribution strategies by market that blends the best of linear, VOD, and digital distribution.

Finally, we expanded our long-term strategic partnership with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment from domestic to global in January 2017. On August 31, 2018, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment assigned all of its rights and interest in our programs to Alliance Entertainment, LLC (“AEC”).

Consumer Products

A source of our revenue is our licensing and merchandising activities from our underlying intellectual property content. We work directly in licensing properties to a variety of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. We currently have across all brands in excess of 49 licensees and hundreds of licensed products scheduled to enter the market. Products bearing our marks can be found in a wide variety of retail distribution outlets reaching consumers in retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, Barnes & Noble, The Home Depot, Old Navy, Amazon.com and many more. We often negotiate dedicated retail space on a direct basis with retailers that will include branded signage to give our brands prominence and clear communication with the consumer. License agreements that we enter into often include financial guarantees and commitments from the manufacturers guaranteeing a minimum stream of revenue for us. As licensed merchandise is sold at retail, these advances and/or minimum guarantees can earn out at which point we could earn additional revenue.

Marketing

We believe that generating awareness and consumer interest in our brands requires a 360-degree approach to marketing. Beyond the content creation and distribution, consumers must become engaged with the content in all aspects of their lives. Successful marketing campaigns for our brands have included utilizing influencers (individuals with a strong, existing social media presence who drive awareness of our brands to their followers), social media marketing, and participating in cross promotional consumer product campaigns. We deploy digital and print advertising to support the brands as well as work with external media relations professionals to promote our efforts to both consumer and trade. We regularly initiate grass roots marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships with brands that align and offer value to us. Our Genius Brands Network, with distribution in over 80 million households, provides reach for cross promotion of content and consumer products.

Competition

We compete against other creators of children’s content including Disney, Nickelodeon, PBS Kids, and Sesame Street as well as other small and large creators. In the crowded children’s entertainment space, we compete with these other creators for both content distribution across linear, VOD, and digital platforms as well as retail shelf space for our licensed products. To compete, we are focused on our strategic positioning of “content with a purpose” which we believe is a point of differentiation embraced by the industry, as well as parents and educators. Additionally, the Kid Genius Cartoon Network, Baby Genius TV, and Kid Genius Cartoon Channel Plus enables us to increase the awareness of our brands through an owned platform.

Customers and Licensees

Typically, our business is not reliant on one or a few major customers; however, in 2019, two customers accounted for 65% of our revenue from the delivery of Llama Llama Season 2 to Netflix and the delivery of Rainbow Rangers Season 1 to Nick Jr. In 2018, one customer accounted for 20% of our revenue. As of December 31, 2019, we had partnered with over 60 consumer products licensees going to market with nearly 500 stock keeping units (“SKU”). As of the same date, we licensed our content to over 44 broadcasters in over 90 territories globally as well as a number of VOD and online platforms that have a global reach. This broad cross-section of customers includes companies such as Comcast, Netflix, Sony, YouTube, Mattel, Target, Penguin Publishing, Manhattan Toys, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon, Google, Bertelsmann Music Group, Discovery International, and others both domestically and internationally.

Government Regulation

The FCC requires broadcast networks to air a required number of hours of Educational and Informational content (E/I). We are subject to online distribution regulations, namely the FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which regulates the collection of information of children younger than 13 years old.

We are currently subject to regulations applicable to businesses generally, including numerous federal and state laws that impose disclosure and other requirements upon the origination, servicing, enforcement and advertising of credit accounts, and limitations on the maximum amount of finance charges that may be charged by a credit provider. Although credit to some of our customers is provided by third parties without recourse to us based upon a customer’s failure to pay, any restrictive change in the regulation of credit, including the imposition of, or changes in, interest rate ceilings, could adversely affect the cost or availability of credit to our customers and, consequently, our results of operations or financial condition.

Licensed toy products are subject to regulation under the Consumer Product Safety Act and regulations issued thereunder. These laws authorize the Consumer Product Safety Commission (the “CPSC”) to protect the public from products which present a substantial risk of injury. The CPSC can require the manufacturer of defective products to repurchase or recall such products. The CPSC may also impose fines or penalties on manufacturers or retailers. Similar laws exist in some states and other countries in which we plan to market our products. Although we do not manufacture and may not directly distribute toy products, a recall of any of the products may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We also maintain websites which include our corporate website located at www.gnusbrands.com, as well as www.spacepopgirls.com, www.kidgeniustv.com, www.babygenius.com, www.smckids.com, www.slam7.com, www.edisonsecretlab.com and www.rainbowrangers.com. These websites are subject to laws and regulations directly applicable to Internet communications and commerce, which is a currently developing area of the law. The United States has enacted Internet laws related to children’s privacy, copyrights and taxation. However, laws governing the Internet remain largely unsettled. The growth of the market for Internet commerce may result in more stringent consumer protection laws, both in the United States and abroad, that place additional burdens on companies conducting business over the Internet. We cannot predict with certainty what impact such laws will have on our business in the future.  In order to comply with new or existing laws regulating Internet commerce, we may need to modify the manner in which we conduct our website business, which may result in additional expense.

Because our products are manufactured by third parties and licensees, we are not significantly impacted by federal, state and local environmental laws and do not have significant costs associated with compliance with such laws and regulations.

Employees

As of December 31, 2019, we had 19 full-time equivalent employees and one contracted part-time employee. We employ on an outsourced, as-needed basis, contractors in the fields of investor relations, public relations, accounting and production.

Intellectual Property

As of December 31, 2019, we own the following properties and related trademarks: “SpacePop”, Secret Millionaires Club, Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab, “Baby Genius”, “Kid Genius”, “Wee Worship”, “A Squared”, and “Kaflooey”, as well as several other names and trademarks on characters that had been developed for our content and brands. Additionally, we have the United States trademark and various international trademarks applications pending for Rainbow Rangers.

As of December 31, 2019, we hold 14 registered trademarks in multiple classes in the United States as well as additional trademarks in the United States that are associated with our other brands. We also have a number of registered and pending trademarks in Europe, Australia, China, Japan and Mexico and other countries in which our products are sold.

As of December 31, 2019, we also held 146 motion picture, 13 sound recordings, and two literary work copyrights related to our video, music and written work products.

We have 50/50 ownership agreements with the following partners and their related brands: Martha Stewart’s Martha & Friends; and Gisele Bündchen’s Gisele & the Green Team.

In addition to the wholly-owned or partially-owned properties listed above, we represent Llama Llama in the licensing and merchandising space.

Company Information

We were incorporated in California on January 3, 2006 and reincorporated in Nevada in October 2011. We commenced operations in January 2006, assuming all of the rights and obligations of our then Chief Executive Officer, under an Asset Purchase Agreement between us and Genius Products, Inc., in which we obtained all rights, copyrights, and trademarks to the brands “Baby Genius,” “Kid Genius,” “123 Favorite Music” and “Wee Worship,” and all then existing productions under those titles. In October 2011, we (i) changed our domicile to Nevada from California, and (ii) changed our name to Genius Brands International, Inc. from Pacific Entertainment Corporation (the “Reincorporation”). In connection with the Reincorporation, we changed our trading symbol from “PENT” to “GNUS.”

Our principal executive offices are located at 190 N Canon Drive, 4^th Floor, Beverly Hills, California 90210. Our telephone number is 310-273-4222. We maintain an Internet website at www.gnusbrands.com. The information contained on, connected to or that can be accessed via our website is not part of this prospectus.

The following discussion of risk factors contains forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be important to understanding any statement in this Form 10-K or elsewhere. The following information should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes beginning on Page F-1 of this Form 10-K.

Our business, financial condition and operating results can be affected by a number of factors, whether currently known or unknown, including but not limited to those described below. Any one or more of such factors could directly or indirectly cause our actual results of operations and financial condition to vary materially from past or anticipated future results of operations and financial condition. Any of these factors, in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and stock price.

Because of the following factors, as well as other factors affecting our financial condition and operating results, past financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

With respect to the ongoing and evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which was designated as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, the outbreak has caused substantial disruption in international and U.S. economies and markets. The outbreak has potential to have an adverse impact on the entertainment industry and, if repercussions of the outbreak are prolonged, could have a significant adverse impact on our business, which could be material. The Company’s management cannot at this point estimate the impact of the outbreak on it’s business and no provision for this outbreak are reflected in the accompanying financial statements.

We have incurred net losses since inception.

We have a history of operating losses and incurred net losses in each fiscal quarter since our inception. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we generated net revenues of $5,907,899 and incurred a net loss of $11,481,245, while for the previous year, we generated net revenue of $993,452 and incurred a net loss of $9,003,901. These losses, among other things, have had an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, stockholders’ equity, net current assets and working capital.

We will need to generate additional revenue and/or reduce costs to achieve profitability. We are beginning to generate revenues derived from our existing properties, properties in production, and new brands being introduced into the marketplace. However, the ability to sustain these revenues and generate significant additional revenues or achieve profitability will depend upon numerous factors some of which are outside of our control.

We will need additional financing to continue our operations. If we are unable to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, we will need to curtail or cease our development plans and operations.

As of December 31, 2019, we had approximately $305,000 of available cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. Following various financings during the first quarter of 2020, as of March 28, 2020, we had approximately $2.8 million of cash and cash equivalents. Additional funds may be required to fund operations and repay our outstanding debt which could be raised through the issuance of equity securities and/or debt financing. There is no assurance that any type of financing on terms acceptable to us will be available or will otherwise occur. Debt financing must be repaid regardless of whether we generate revenues or cash flows from operations and may be secured by substantially all of our assets. Any equity financing or debt financing that requires the issuance of warrants or other equity securities to the lender would cause the percentage ownership by our current stockholders to be diluted, which dilution may be substantial. Also, any additional equity securities issued may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing stockholders. If we obtain stockholder approval, any equity financing at a price below the then current conversion price of our March 2020 Secured Convertible Notes or the exercise price of the March 2020 Warrants will result in an adjustment to the conversion price or exercise price applicable to such securities, resulting in the potential issuance of additional shares of our common stock upon the conversion or exercise of such securities, which would further dilute our other stockholders.

If we are not able to obtain sufficient capital, we may then be forced to limit the scope of our operations.

We expect that as our business continues to evolve, we will need additional working capital. If adequate additional debt and/or equity financing is not available on reasonable terms or at all, we may not be able to continue to expand our business, and we will have to modify our business plans accordingly. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our future operating results and our financial condition.

If we reach a point where we are unable to raise needed additional funds to continue as a going concern, we could be forced to cease our activities and dissolve our company. In such an event, we will need to satisfy various creditors and other claimants, severance, lease termination and other dissolution-related obligations.

Our revenues and results of operations may fluctuate from period to period.

Cash flow and projections for any entertainment company producing original content can be expected to fluctuate until the animated content and ancillary consumer products are in the market and could fluctuate thereafter even when the content and products are in the marketplace. There is significant lead time in developing and producing animated content before that content is in the marketplace. Unanticipated delays in entertainment production can delay the release of the content into the marketplace. Structured retail windows that dictate when new products can be introduced at retail are also out of our control. While we believe that we have mitigated this in part by creating a slate of properties at various stages of development or production as well as representing certain established brands which contribute immediately to cash flow, any delays in the production and release of our content and products or any changes in the preferences of our customers could result in lower than anticipated cash flows.

As with our cash flows, our revenues and results of operations depend significantly upon the appeal of our content to our customers, the timing of releases of our products and the commercial success of our products, none of which can be predicted with certainty. Accordingly, our revenues and results of operations may fluctuate from period to period. The results of one period may not be indicative of the results of any future period. Any quarterly fluctuations that we report in the future may not match the expectations of market analysts and investors. This could cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate.

Production cost will be amortized according to the individual film forecasting methodology. If estimated remaining revenue is not sufficient to recover the unamortized production costs, the unamortized production costs will be written down to fair value. In any given quarter, if we lower our previous forecast with respect to total anticipated revenue, we would be required to adjust amortization of related production costs. These adjustments would adversely impact our business, operating results and financial condition.

Changes in the United States, global or regional economic conditions could adversely affect the profitability of our business.

A decrease in economic activity in the United States or in other regions of the world in which we do business could adversely affect demand for our products, thus reducing our revenue and earnings. A decline in economic conditions could reduce demand for and sales of our products. In addition, an increase in price levels generally, or in price levels in a particular sector, could result in a shift in consumer demand away from the animated content and consumer products we offer, which could also decrease our revenues, increase our costs, or both.

Inaccurately anticipating changes and trends in popular culture, media and movies, fashion, or technology can negatively affect our sales.

While trends in the toddler to tween sector change quickly, we respond to trends and developments by modifying, refreshing, extending, and expanding our product offerings on an on-going basis. However, we operate in extremely competitive industries where the ultimate appeal and popularity of content and products targeted to this sector can be difficult to predict. We believe our focus on “content with a purpose” serves an underrepresented area of the toddler to tween market; however, if the interest of our audience trends away from our current properties toward other offerings based on current media, movies, animated content or characters, and if we fail to accurately anticipate trends in popular culture, movies, media, fashion, or technology, our products may not be accepted by children, parents, or families and our revenues, profitability, and results of operations may be adversely affected.

We face competition from a variety of retailers that sell similar merchandise and have better resources than we do.

The industries in which we operate are competitive, and our results of operations are sensitive to, and may be adversely affected by, competitive pricing, promotional pressures, additional competitor offerings and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Indirectly through our licensing arrangements, we compete for retailers as well as other outlets for the sale and promotion of our licensed merchandise. Our primary competition comes from competitors such as The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon Studios, and the Cartoon Network.

We have sought a competitive advantage by providing “content with a purpose” which are both entertaining and enriching for children and offer differentiated value that parents seek in making purchasing decisions for their children. While we do not believe that this value proposition is specifically offered by our competitors, our competitors have greater financial resources and more developed marketing channels than we do which could impact our ability, through our licensees, to secure shelf space thereby decreasing our revenues or affecting our profitability and results of operations.

The production of our animated content is accomplished through third-party production and animation studios around the world, and any failure of these third-parties could negatively impact our business.

As part of our business model to manage cash flows, we have partnered with a number of third-party production and animation studios around the world for the production of our new content in which these partners fund the production of the content in exchange for a portion of revenues generated in certain territories. We are reliant on our partners to produce and deliver the content on a timely basis meeting the predetermined specifications for that product. The delivery of inferior content could result in additional expenditures by us to correct any problems to ensure marketability. Further, delays in the delivery of the finished content to us could result in our failure to deliver the product to broadcasters to which it has been pre-licensed. While we believe we have mitigated this risk by aligning the economic interests of our partners with ours and managing the production process remotely on a daily basis, any failures or delays from our production partners could negatively affect our profitability.

We cannot assure you that our original programming content will appeal to our distributors and viewers or that any of our original programming content will not be cancelled or removed from our distributors’ platforms.

Our business depends on the appeal of our content to distributors and viewers, which is difficult to predict. Our business depends in part upon viewer preferences and audience acceptance of our original programming content. These factors are difficult to predict and are subject to influences beyond our control, such as the quality and appeal of competing programming, general economic conditions and the availability of other entertainment activities. We may not be able to anticipate and react effectively to shifts in tastes and interests in markets. A change in viewer preferences could cause our original programming content to decline in popularity, which could jeopardize renewal of agreements with distributors.  Low ratings or viewership for programming content produced by us may lead to the cancellation, removal or non-renewal of a program and can negatively affect future license fees for such program.  If our original programming content does not gain the level of audience acceptance we expect, or if we are unable to maintain the popularity of our original programming, we may have a diminished negotiating position when dealing with distributors, which could reduce our revenue. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain the success of any of our current original programming content or generate sufficient demand and market acceptance for new original programming content in the future. This could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition, operating results, liquidity and prospects.

We may be required to pay significant penalties if we are not able to meet our obligations under our outstanding registration rights agreements.

We have entered into registration rights agreements in connection with certain of our securities offerings. We may be obligated to pay liquidated damages if we do not meet our obligations under those agreements.

If we are required to pay significant amounts, such as the liquidated damages described above, under these or future registration rights agreements, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and ability to finance our operations.

Failure to successfully market or advertise our products could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our products are marketed worldwide through a diverse spectrum of advertising and promotional programs. Our ability to sell products is dependent in part upon the success of these programs. If we or our licensees do not successfully market our products or if media or other advertising or promotional costs increase, these factors could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The failure of others to promote our products may adversely affect our business.

The availability of retailer programs relating to product placement, co-op advertising and market development funds, and our ability and willingness to pay for such programs, are important with respect to promoting our properties. In addition, although we may have agreements for the advertising and promotion of our products through our licensees, we will not be in direct control of those marketing efforts and those efforts may not be done in a manner that will maximize sales of our products and may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

We may not be able to keep pace with technological advances.

The entertainment industry in general, and the music and motion picture industries in particular, continue to undergo significant changes, primarily due to technological developments. Because of the rapid growth of technology, shifting consumer tastes and the popularity and availability of other forms of entertainment, it is impossible to predict the overall effect these factors could have on potential revenue from, and profitability of, distributing entertainment programming. As it is also impossible to predict the overall effect these factors could have on our ability to compete effectively in a changing market, if we are not able to keep pace with these technological advances, our revenues, profitability and results from operations may be materially adversely affected.

Failure in our information technology and storage systems could significantly disrupt the operation of our business.

Our ability to execute our business plan and maintain operations depends on the continued and uninterrupted performance of our information technology (“IT”) systems. IT systems are vulnerable to risks and damages from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, malicious human acts and natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security and back-up measures, some of our and our vendors’ servers are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, including cyber-attacks, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. These events could lead to the unauthorized access, disclosure and use of non-public information. The techniques used by criminal elements to attack computer systems are sophisticated, change frequently and may originate from less regulated and remote areas of the world. As a result, we may not be able to address these techniques proactively or implement adequate preventative measures. If our computer systems are compromised, we could be subject to fines, damages, litigation and enforcement actions, and we could lose trade secrets, the occurrence of which could harm our business. Despite precautionary measures to prevent unanticipated problems that could affect our IT systems, sustained or repeated system failures that interrupt our ability to generate and maintain data could adversely affect our ability to operate our business.

Our internal computer systems, or those of our collaborators or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption and cause our business and reputation to suffer.

In the ordinary course of business, our internal computer systems and those of our current and any future collaborators and other contractors or consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. While we do not believe that we have experienced any such material system failure, accident or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could adversely affect our business operations, whether due to a loss of our trade secrets or other proprietary information or other similar disruptions. Any such access, disclosure or other loss of such information could result in legal claims or proceedings and damage our reputation.

Loss of key personnel may adversely affect our business.

Our success greatly depends on the performance of our executive management team, including Andy Heyward, our Chief Executive Officer. The loss of the services of any member of our core executive management team or other key persons could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our management team currently owns a substantial interest in our voting stock.

As of March 29, 2019, our management team and Board of Directors beneficially own or control (including conversions, options or warrants exercisable or convertible within 60 days) a combined 3,436,505 shares or 11.24-%, of our shares currently outstanding (including conversions, options or warrants exercisable or convertible within 60 days). Sales of significant amounts of shares held by our directors and executive officers, or the prospect of these sales, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Additionally, management has the ability to control any proposals submitted to shareholders, including corporate actions and board changes which may not be in accordance with the votes of other shareholders.

Litigation may harm our business or otherwise distract management.

Substantial, complex or extended litigation could cause us to incur large expenditures and could distract management. For example, lawsuits by licensors, consumers, employees or stockholders could be very costly and disrupt business. While disputes from time to time are not uncommon, we may not be able to resolve such disputes on terms favorable to us.

Our vendors and licensees may be subject to various laws and government regulations, violation of which could subject these parties to sanctions which could lead to increased costs or the interruption of normal business operations that could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Our vendors and licensees may operate in a highly regulated environment in the US and international markets. Federal, state and local governmental entities and foreign governments may regulate aspects of their businesses, including the production or distribution of our content or products. These regulations may include accounting standards, taxation requirements (including changes in applicable income tax rates, new tax laws and revised tax law interpretations), product safety and other safety standards, trade restrictions, regulations regarding financial matters, environmental regulations, advertising directed toward children, product content, and other administrative and regulatory restrictions. While we believe our vendors and licensees take all the steps necessary to comply with these laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that they are compliant or will be in compliance in the future. Failure to comply could result in monetary liabilities and other sanctions which could increase our costs or decrease our revenue resulting in a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Protecting and defending against intellectual property claims may have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our ability to compete in the animated content and entertainment industry depends, in part, upon successful protection of our proprietary and intellectual property. We protect our property rights to our productions through available copyright and trademark laws and licensing and distribution arrangements with reputable companies in specific territories and media for limited durations. Despite these precautions, existing copyright and trademark laws afford only limited, or no, practical protection in some jurisdictions. It may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy and distribute our productions or portions of our productions. In addition, although we own most of the music and intellectual property included in our products, there are some titles which the music or other elements are in the public domain and for which it is difficult or even impossible to determine whether anyone has obtained ownership or royalty rights. It is an inherent risk in our industry that people may make such claims with respect to any title already included in our products, whether or not such claims can be substantiated. If litigation is necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets, to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others or to defend against claims of infringement or invalidity. Any such litigation could result in substantial costs and the resulting diversion of resources could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR COMMON STOCK

A substantial number of shares of our common stock may be issued pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Convertible Notes, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

The 2020 Convertible Notes are convertible into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion price of $1.375 per share, for an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares, or approximately 33.8% of our outstanding common stock as of March 29, 2020 (without taking into account the limitations on the conversion of the 2020 Convertible Notes as described elsewhere in this Report). If we obtain stockholder approval, the 2020 Convertible Notes will be convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.21 per share, for an aggregate of 65,476,190 shares, or approximately 221.2% of our outstanding common stock as of March 29, 2020 (without taking into account the limitations on the conversion of the 2020 Convertible Notes as described elsewhere in this Report). Furthermore, the number of shares of common stock to be issued may be substantially greater, if upon stockholder approval, the 2020 Convertible Notes are converted into shares of common stock in accordance with the installment conversion process, each as described elsewhere in this Report. In such case, the number of shares of common stock issued will be determined based on a discount to the then current market price. We cannot predict the market price of our common stock at any future date, and therefore, we are unable to accurately forecast or predict the total amount of shares that ultimately may be issued under the 2020 Convertible Notes. The number of shares of common stock to be issued also may be substantially greater if we voluntarily reduce the conversion price of the 2020 Convertible Notes as permitted under the 2020 Convertible Notes (if stockholder approval is obtained).

The 2020 Convertible Notes likely will be converted only at times when it is economically beneficially for the holder to do so, and we are entitled to make installment conversions only at a price per share that is at a discount to the then current market price. The issuance of these shares will dilute our other equity holders, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

The requirement that we repay the 2020 Convertible Notes and interest thereon in cash under certain circumstances, and the restrictive covenants contained in the 2020 Convertible Notes, could adversely affect our business plan, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be required to repay the 2020 Convertible Notes and interest thereon in cash if we do not meet certain customary equity conditions (including minimum price and volume thresholds) or in certain other circumstances. For example, we will be required to repay the outstanding principal balance and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, along with a premium, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the 2020 Convertible Notes). In addition, the 2020 Convertible Notes contain restrictive covenants, including a cash burn covenant. These obligations and covenants could have important consequences on our business. In particular, they could:

In the event we are required to repay the 2020 Convertible Notes in cash, we may seek to refinance the remaining balance, by either refinancing with the holders of the 2020 Convertible Notes, by raising sufficient funds through a sale of equity or debt securities or by obtaining a credit facility. No assurances can be given that we will be successful in making the required payments under the 2020 Convertible Notes, or in refinancing our obligations on favorable terms, or at all. Should we determine to refinance, it could be dilutive to shareholders.

If we are unable to make the required cash payments, there could be a default under the 2020 Convertible Notes. In such event, or if a default otherwise occurs under the 2020 Convertible Notes, including as a result of our failure to comply with the financial or other covenants contained therein, the holders of the 2020 Convertible Note could require us to immediately repay the outstanding principal and interest on the 2020 Convertible Note in cash, plus a significant premium.

Our stock price may be subject to substantial volatility, and stockholders may lose all or a substantial part of their investment.

Our common stock currently trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market. There is limited public float, and trading volume historically has been low and sporadic. As a result, the market price for our common stock may not necessarily be a reliable indicator of our fair market value. The price at which our common stock trades may fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, including the number of shares available for sale in the market, quarterly variations in our operating results, actual or anticipated announcements of new releases by us or competitors, the gain or loss of significant customers, changes in the estimates of our operating performance, market conditions in our industry and the economy as a whole.

Our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq Capital Market could result in a delisting of our Common Stock.

On September 4, 2019, we received a notification letter from The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) informing us that for the last 30 consecutive business days, the bid price of the our Common Stock had closed below $1.00 per share, which is the minimum required closing bid price for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Rule”).

This notice has no immediate effect on our Nasdaq listing or trading of its Common Stock. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we had 180 calendar days, or until March 2, 2020, to regain compliance. To regain compliance, the closing bid price of our Common Stock must have been at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days. If we did not regain compliance by March 2, 2020, we were potentially eligible for additional time to regain compliance or if we were otherwise not eligible, we were able to request a hearing before a Nasdaq Hearings Panel (“Panel”).

On March 3, 2020, we received notification from Nasdaq that we were granted an additional 180-day compliance period, or until August 31, 2020, to regain compliance with the minimum $1.00 bid price per share requirement of the Rule. Nasdaq’s determination to grant the additional 180-day compliance period was based on our meeting the continued listing requirement for the market value of publicly held shares and all other applicable requirements for initial listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market with the exception of the bid price requirement, and our provision of written notice of our intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period, including effecting a reverse stock split if necessary.

If at any time before August 31, 2020, the bid price of our Common Stock closes at $1.00 per share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, we will regain compliance with the Rule, and the matter will be closed.

If we do not meet the minimum bid requirement during the additional 180-day grace period, Nasdaq will provide written notification to us that our Common Stock will be subject to delisting. At such time, we may appeal the delisting determination to a Panel. We would remain listed pending the Panel’s decision. There can be no assurance that, if we do appeal a subsequent delisting determination by the Staff to the Panel, that such appeal would be successful.

This current notification from Nasdaq has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of our Common Stock, which will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GNUS”

If we fail to satisfy the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq Capital Market, such as minimum financial and other continued listing requirements and standards, including those regarding minimum stockholders’ equity, minimum share price, and certain corporate governance requirements, Nasdaq may take steps to delist our Common Stock. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price of our Common Stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase our Common Stock when you wish to do so. In the event of a delisting, we would expect to take actions to restore our compliance with Nasdaq's listing requirements, but we can provide no assurance that any such action taken by us would allow our Common Stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our Common Stock, prevent our Common Stock from dropping below the Nasdaq minimum bid price requirement, or prevent future non-compliance with Nasdaq's listing requirements.

If our Common Stock becomes subject to the penny stock rules, it may be more difficult to sell our Common Stock.

The SEC has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. Penny stocks are generally equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or authorized for quotation on certain automated quotation systems, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system). The OTC Bulletin Board does not meet such requirements and if the price of our Common Stock is less than $5.00 and our Common Stock is no longer listed on a national securities exchange such as Nasdaq, our stock may be deemed a penny stock. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, at least two business days prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, to deliver to the customer a standardized risk disclosure document containing specified information and to obtain from the customer a signed and date acknowledgment of receipt of that document. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to effecting any transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, a broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive: (i) the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement; (ii) a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks; and (iii) a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for our Common Stock, and therefore stockholders may have difficulty selling their shares.

If we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, the price of our common stock may be adversely affected.

Our internal control over financial reporting may have weaknesses and conditions that could require correction or remediation, the disclosure of which may have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock. We are required to establish and maintain appropriate internal controls over financial reporting. Failure to establish those controls, or any failure of those controls once established, could adversely affect our public disclosures regarding our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations.

Rules adopted by the SEC pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 require an annual assessment of internal controls over financial reporting, and for certain issuers an attestation of this assessment by the issuer’s independent registered public accounting firm. The standards that must be met for management to assess the internal controls over financial reporting as effective are evolving and complex, and require significant documentation, testing, and possible remediation to meet the detailed standards. We expect to incur significant expenses and to devote resources to Section 404 compliance on an ongoing basis. It is difficult for us to predict how long it will take or costly it will be to complete the assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for each year and to remediate any deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. As a result, we may not be able to complete the assessment and remediation process on a timely basis. In addition, management’s assessment of internal controls over financial reporting may identify weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal controls over financial reporting or other matters that may raise concerns for investors. Any actual or perceived weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting or disclosure of management’s assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting may have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

We are authorized to issue “blank check” preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could adversely impact the rights of holders of our common stock.

Our Articles of Incorporation authorize us to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock. Any additional preferred stock that we issue in the future may rank ahead of our common stock in terms of dividend priority or liquidation premiums and may have greater voting rights than our common stock. In addition, such preferred stock may contain provisions allowing those shares to be converted into shares of common stock, which could dilute the value of common stock to current stockholders and could adversely affect the market price, if any, of our common stock. In addition, the preferred stock could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of our company. Although we have no present intention to issue any additional shares of authorized preferred stock, there can be no assurance that we will not do so in the future.

We do not expect to pay dividends in the future and any return on investment may be limited to the value of our common stock.

We do not currently anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock will depend on earnings, financial condition and other business and economic factors affecting it at such time as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Our current intention is to apply net earnings, if any, in the foreseeable future to increasing our capital base and development and marketing efforts. There can be no assurance that we will ever have sufficient earnings to declare and pay dividends to the holders of our common stock, and in any event, a decision to declare and pay dividends is at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because the return on investment will only occur if its stock price appreciates.

Offers or availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline.

If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market upon the expiration of any statutory holding period under Rule 144, or shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang” and, in anticipation of which, the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether or not sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make more difficult our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.

In general, under Rule 144, a non-affiliated person who has held restricted shares of our common stock for a period of six months may sell into the market all of their shares, subject to us being current in our periodic reports filed with the Commission.

As of March 29, 2020, approximately 29,592,229 shares of common stock of the 29,592,229 shares of common stock issued and outstanding are free trading. Additionally, as of March 29, 2019, there are 2,047,619 shares of common stock underlying the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that could be sold pursuant to Rule 144. As of the same date, there are 62,630,757 shares of common stock underlying outstanding warrants that could be sold pursuant to Rule 144 to the extent permitted by any applicable vesting requirements as well as 928,263 shares of common stock underlying registered warrants. Lastly, as of March 29, 2019, there are 1,289,866 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options granted and 877,801 shares reserved for issuance under our Genius Brands International, Inc. Amended 2015 Incentive Plan, all of which are unregistered but will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by any applicable vesting requirements and Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Following the six month anniversary of the issuance of the 2020 Convertible Notes, the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the 2020 Convertible Notes become eligible to be sold pursuant to Rule 144.

Concentration of ownership among our existing officers, directors and principal stockholders may prevent other stockholders from influencing significant corporate decisions and depress our stock price.

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 29, 2020, our officers, directors and stockholders who hold at least 5% of our stock beneficially own a combined total of approximately 85.19% of our outstanding common stock, including shares of common stock subject to preferred shares, stock options, and warrants that are currently convertible or exercisable or will be convertible or exercisable within 60 days after March 29, 2020. If these officers, directors, and principal stockholders or a group of our principal stockholders act together, they will be able to exert a significant degree of influence over our management and affairs and control matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of mergers, business combinations or other significant transactions. The interests of one or more of these stockholders may not always coincide with our interests or the interests of other stockholders. For instance, officers, directors, and principal stockholders, acting together, could cause us to enter into transactions or agreements that we would not otherwise consider. Similarly, this concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company otherwise favored by our other stockholders.

None.

We leased 3,251 square feet of general office space at 301 North Canon Drive, Suite 305, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 pursuant to a 35-month sub-lease that commenced on May 1, 2015. Upon the end of the amended lease on January 26, 2018, we relocated our offices. We paid rent of $136,542 annually, subject to annual escalations of 3%.

On February 6, 2018, we entered into a lease for 6,969 square feet of general office space at 131 South Rodeo Drive, Suite 250, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 pursuant to a 91-month lease that commenced on May 25, 2018. We pay rent of $364,130 annually, subject to annual escalations of 3.5%.

Effective January 21, 2019, we entered into a sublease for the 6,969 square feet of general office space located at 131 South Rodeo Drive, Suite 250, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 pursuant to an 83-month sublease that commenced on February 4, 2019. The subtenant pays us rent of $422,321 annually, subject to annual escalations of 3.5%.

On December 28, 2018, we entered into a lease for 5,765 square feet of general office space at 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 412, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 pursuant to a 6-month lease that commenced January 28, 2019. We pay rent of $24,501 monthly.

On January 30, 2019, we entered into a lease for 5,838 square feet of general office space at 190 Cannon Drive, Suite 400, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 pursuant to a 96-month lease that commenced on September 1, 2019. We pay rent of $392,316 annually, subject to annual escalations of 3.5%.

We are not party to any litigation in any court, and management is not aware of any contemplated proceeding by any governmental authority against us.

Not applicable.

PART II

Market Information

Our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GNUS” on November 21, 2016. Prior to that, our common stock traded on the OTCQB of the OTC Markets Group Inc. under the same symbol.

The last reported closing price for our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 27, 2020 was $0.30 per share.

Stockholders

As of March 29, 2020, the number of shares of common stock outstanding was 29,592,229. As of March 29, 2020, there were approximately 177 active record holders of our shares of issued and outstanding common stock. This number does not include persons or entities that hold their stock in nominee or “street” name through various brokerage firms.

Dividends

We have never declared or paid dividends on our common stock. Moreover, we currently intend to retain any future earnings for use in our business and, therefore, do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

On September 18, 2015, the Company adopted the Genius Brands International, Inc. 2015 Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”). The 2015 Plan was approved by our stockholders in September 2015. The 2015 Plan as approved by the stockholders authorized the issuance up to an aggregate of 150,000 shares of common stock. On December 14, 2015, the Board of Directors voted to amend the 2015 Plan to increase the total number of shares that can be issued under the 2015 Plan by 1,293,334 from 150,000 shares to 1,443,334 shares. The increase in shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan was approved by stockholders on February 3, 2016. On May 18, 2017, the Board of Directors voted to amend the 2015 Plan to increase the total number of shares that can be issued under the 2015 Plan by 223,333 shares from 1,443,334 shares to an aggregate of 1,667,667 shares. The increase in shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan was approved by the stockholders on July 25, 2017.

On September 6, 2018, the Board of Directors voted to amend the 2015 Plan to increase the total number of shares that can be issued under the 2015 Plan by 500,000 shares from 1,667,667 shares to an aggregate of 2,167,667 shares. The increase in shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders on October 2, 2018.

The following table reflects, as of December 31, 2019, compensation plans pursuant to which we are authorized to issue options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of its common stock, including the number of shares issuable under outstanding options, warrants and rights issued under the plans and the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the plans.

Issuances of Unregistered Sales of Securities

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 296,053 shares of common stock pursuant to the conversion of 225 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at a conversion price of $0.76 per share.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 3,804,766 shares of common stock pursuant to the conversion of 798 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at a conversion price of $0.21 per share.

These securities were issued solely to “accredited investors” in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

On October 18, 2019, the Company issued 534,247 shares of Common Stock valued at $0.73 to a vendor for production services rendered.

As a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide information required by this Item.

The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and capital resources should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and related notes for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. Certain statements made or incorporated by reference in this report and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our press releases and in statements made by or with the approval of authorized personnel constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Forward looking statements reflect intent, belief, current expectations, estimates or projections about, among other things, our industry, management’s beliefs, and future events and financial trends affecting us. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will” and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward looking statements. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These differences can arise as a result of the risks described above in the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report, as well as other factors that may affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition. Forward looking statements in this report speak only as of the date hereof, and forward-looking statements in documents incorporated by reference speak only as of the date of those documents. Unless otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this report will, in fact, transpire.

Overview

The management’s discussion and analysis is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

Our Business

Overview

Genius Brands International, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) is a global content and brand management company that creates and licenses multimedia content. Led by experienced industry personnel, we distribute our content in all formats as well as a broad range of consumer products based on our characters. In the children's media sector, our portfolio features “content with a purpose” for toddlers to tweens, which provides enrichment as well as entertainment. New intellectual property titles include the preschool property Rainbow Rangers, which debuted in November 2018 on Nickelodeon and which was renewed for a second season and preschool property Llama Llama, which debuted on Netflix in January 2018 and was renewed by Netflix for a second season. Our library titles include the award winning Baby Genius, adventure comedy Thomas Edison's Secret Lab® and Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club, created with and starring iconic investor Warren Buffett which is distributed across our Genius Brands Network on Comcast’s Xfinity on Demand, AppleTV, Roku, Amazon Fire, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Cox, Dish, Sling and Zumo as well as Connected TV. We are also developing an all-new animated series, Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten with Stan Lee's Pow! Entertainment. 

In addition, we act as licensing agent for Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House LLC who owns or controls the underlying rights to Llama Llama, leveraging our existing licensing infrastructure to expand this brand into new product categories, new retailers, and new territories.

Recent Developments

January 2020 Warrant Exercise Agreement

On January 22, 2020, the Company entered into a private transaction (the “Private Transaction”) pursuant to a Warrant Exercise Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the holder of the Company’s existing warrants (the “Original Warrants”). The Original Warrants were originally issued on October 3, 2017, to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $3.90 per share and were to expire in October 2022.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the holder of the Original Warrants and the Company agreed that such Original Warrant holder would exercise its Original Warrants in full and the Company would amend the Original Warrants to reduce the exercise price thereof to $0.34 (the average closing price of the common stock (as reflected on Nasdaq.com) for the five trading days immediately preceding the signing of the Agreement) (the “Amended Exercise Price”). The Company received approximately $170,000 from the exercise of the Original Warrants.

March 2020 Private Placement

On March 11, 2020, the Company and certain accredited investors (each an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue (1) Senior Secured Convertible Notes to the Investors in the aggregate principal amount of $13,750,000 (each, a “Note” and collectively, the “2020 Convertible Notes”) and $11,000,000 funding amount (reflecting an original issue discount of $2,750,000) and (2) warrants to purchase 65,476,190 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), exercisable for a period of five years at an initial exercise price of $0.26 per share (each a “Warrant” and collectively, the “Warrants”), for consideration consisting of (i) a cash payment of $7,000,000, and (ii) full recourse cash secured promissory notes payable by the Investors to the Company (each, an “Investor Note” and collectively, the “Investor Notes”) in the principal amount of $4,000,000 (the “Investor Notes Principal”) (collectively, the “Financing”). Andy Heyward, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, participated as an Investor and invested $1,000,000 in connection with the Financing, all of which were paid at the closing and not pursuant to an Investor Note.

The closing of the sale and issuance of the 2020 Convertible Notes, the Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants described below occurred on March 17, 2020 (the “Closing Date”). The maturity date of the 2020 Convertible Notes is September 30, 2021 and the maturity date of the Investor Notes is March 11, 2060.

The SPA contains certain representations and warranties, covenants and indemnities customary for similar transactions. In addition, the Company agreed to the following additional covenants including, but not limited to: (i) the Company shall hold a stockholder meeting (the “Stockholder Meeting”), by no later than May 15, 2020, to approve the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable under the 2020 Convertible Notes and pursuant to the terms of the SPA for the purposes of compliance with the stockholder approval rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Stockholder Approval”) and the Company will be obligated to continue to seek Stockholder Approval every 90 days until such approval is obtained, (ii) until the date that the 2020 Convertible Notes are no longer outstanding, the Company will not issue, offer, sell or grant any equity or equity-linked security, subject to certain limited exceptions described in the SPA, unless (A) Stockholder Approval has been obtained prior thereto and (B) (i) at least 75% of the gross proceeds in excess of the first $2,000,000 of gross proceeds of all subsequent Financings consummated prior to the six month anniversary of the Closing Date are first applied to the redemption of the 2020 Convertible Notes (pro-rata based on an Investor’s Purchase Price which redemption may be waiver by an Investor and it will not increase the pro-rata percentage of any other Investors) or (ii) at least 75% of the gross proceeds of any such subsequent placement consummated after the six month anniversary of the Closing Date are first applied to the redemption of the 2020 Convertible Notes (pro-rata), (iii) the Company shall use its best efforts to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Voting Agreements executed by the Company and the stockholders who hold in the aggregate approximately 40% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock which require that such stockholders vote in favor of the proposals voted on at the Stockholder Meeting, and (iv) promptly securing the listing of certain shares issuable pursuant to the transaction documents and maintaining the listing of the shares of Common Stock on an eligible market.

In addition, pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the 2020 Convertible Notes and the Warrants, the Company agreed that the following will apply or become effective only following Stockholder Approval: (1) the conversion price of the 2020 Convertible Notes shall be reduced to $0.21 per share and may be further reduced to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company, (2) the exercise price of the Warrants shall be immediately reduced to $0.21 per share and may be further reduced to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company, (3) the 2020 Convertible Notes and Warrants shall each have full ratchet anti-dilution protection for subsequent financings (subject to certain exceptions), (4) existing warrant holders that are participating in the Financing (representing warrants to purchase an aggregate of 8,715,229 shares of Company Common Stock) will have their existing warrants’ exercise prices reduced to $0.21 and (5) the investors shall have a most favored nations right which provides that if the Company enters into a subsequent financing, then the Investors (together with their affiliates) at their sole discretion shall have the ability to exchange their 2020 Convertible Notes on a $1 for $1 basis into securities issued in the new transaction. Additionally, in the event that any warrants or options (or any similar security or right) issued in a subsequent financing include any terms more favorable to the holders thereof (less favorable to the Company) than the terms of the Warrants, the Warrants shall be automatically amended to include such more favorable terms.

In addition, for as long as any 2020 Convertible Notes or Warrants remain outstanding, the Company will not (i) issue or sell any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the Common Stock, including by way of one or more reset(s) to any fixed price, unless the conversion, exchange or exercise price of any such security cannot be less than the then applicable Conversion Price with respect to the Common Stock into which any 2020 Convertible Notes are convertible or redeemable or the then applicable Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrants) with respect to the Common Stock into which any Warrant is exercisable or (ii) enter into, or effect any transaction under, any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit, an “at-the-market” offering or similar agreement, whereby the Company may issue securities at a future determined price.

On March 16, 2020 the holders of the August 2018 Secured Convertible Notes were repaid in full including any outstanding interest.

Amortization of Principal

The 2020 Convertible Notes provide that the Company will repay the principal amount of 2020 Convertible Notes in equal monthly installments of 1/12th of the principal amount of the 2020 Convertible Notes beginning October 31, 2020 and the last business day of each calendar month anniversary thereafter (each an “Installment Date”). On each Installment Date, assuming the Equity Conditions described below are met and Stockholder Approval has been obtained, all or some of the Installment Amount (as defined in the 2020 Convertible Notes) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock, provided however that the Company may elect prior to any Installment Date to pay all or a portion of the installment amount in cash, as described below.

The Company may elect to pay each monthly Installment Amount in (i) cash (a “Company Redemption” and such cash payment, the “Company Installment Redemption Price”) equal to 100% of the portion of such Installment Amount which the Company elects or is required to redeem pursuant to a Company Redemption (the “Company Redemption Amount”) or (ii) if (a) the Equity Conditions described below are satisfied or waived and (b) the Company so elects and Stockholder Approval has been obtained, by conversion of all or some of an Installment Amount into Common Stock (a “Company Conversion”). To the extent that the Company elects to pay an Installment Amount in shares of Common Stock, then (A) twenty-three (23) trading days prior to the applicable Installment Date (each such date being a “Pre-Installment Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Investor(s) a number of shares of Common Stock (each such quantity being a “Pre-Installment Share Amount”) equal to the Installment Amount being paid in shares of Common Stock divided by the lower of (i) the then prevailing Conversion Price or (ii) the Market Price (as defined below) determined on the applicable Pre-Installment Date, and (B) on the applicable Installment Date, the Company shall deliver to the Investor a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (a) the amount of the applicable Installment Amount being paid in shares of Common Stock divided by the lower of (i) the then prevailing Conversion Price or (ii) the Market Price determined on the applicable Installment Date, less (b) any applicable Pre-Installment Share Amount delivered pursuant to the applicable Installment Amount. “Market Price” means 85% of the arithmetic average of the five (5) lowest daily Weighted Average Prices of the Common Stock during the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination, subject to adjustments for any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction during such measuring period.

With respect to any given date of determination, the “Equity Conditions” include:

(i) on each day during the period beginning thirty (30) Trading Days immediately prior to the applicable date of determination and ending on and including the applicable date of determination (the “Equity Conditions Measuring Period”), the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the 2020 Convertible Notes and upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Underlying Securities”) shall be registered for resale pursuant to one or more registration statements filed with the SEC or eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “Rule 144”);

(ii) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Common Stock is designated for quotation on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Principal Market”) or any other eligible market and shall not have been suspended from trading on such exchange or market nor shall delisting or suspension by such exchange or market been threatened (with delisting reasonably likely to occur after giving effect to all applicable notice, appeal, cure, compliance and hearing periods), commenced or pending either (A) in writing by such exchange or market or (B) by falling below the then effective minimum listing maintenance requirements of such exchange or market;

(iii) during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company shall have delivered shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Convertible Notes and shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants to the holders on a timely basis as set forth in the 2020 Convertible Notes and the Warrants, respectively;

(iv) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount that is subject to the applicable Company Conversion or Company Optional Redemption, as applicable, requiring the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions may be issued in full without violating the 2020 Convertible Notes and the rules or regulations of the Principal Market or any other applicable eligible market;

(v) during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company shall not have failed to timely make any payments within five (5) business days of when such payment is due pursuant to any transaction document;

(vi) during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have occurred either (A) the public announcement of a pending, proposed or intended Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the 2020 Convertible Notes) which has not been abandoned, terminated or consummated, (B) an Event of Default or (C) an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default or Triggering Event (as defined in the 2020 Convertible Notes);

(vii) the Company shall have no knowledge of any fact that would cause (x) one or more registration statements not to be effective and available for the resale of all remaining shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Convertible Notes and upon exercise of the Warrants (in each case, without giving effect to any limitation on conversion or exercise set forth herein and therein), including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount that is subject to the applicable Company Conversion or Company Optional Redemption, as applicable, requiring the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions, or (y) any shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Convertible Notes and upon exercise of the Warrants (in each case, without giving effect to any limitation on conversion or exercise set forth herein and therein), including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount that is subject to the applicable Company Conversion or Company Optional Redemption, as applicable, requiring the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions, not to be eligible for sale without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (other than with respect to Rule 144(i)) (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Securities Act, provided that no Public Information Failure has occurred, and any applicable state securities laws;

(viii) during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company otherwise shall have been in compliance with and shall not have breached any provision, covenant, representation or warranty of any transaction document in any material respect (other than representations or warranties subject to material adverse effect or materiality, which may not be breached in any respect);

(ix) during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Investor shall not have been in possession of any material, nonpublic information received from the Company, any subsidiary or its respective agent or affiliates;

(x) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount that is subject to the applicable Company Conversion or Company Optional Redemption, as applicable, requiring the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions are duly authorized and listed and eligible for trading without restriction on an eligible market;

(xi) the average daily dollar trading volume of the Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg during the twenty (20) Trading Days immediately prior to the applicable date of determination shall be at least $100,000; and

(xii) on each Trading Day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the closing price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $0.05 (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction occurring after March 11, 2020).

Any holder of a Note may, by notice to the Company, accelerate future installment payments to any applicable Installment Date, in which case the Company will deliver shares of Common Stock for the conversion of such accelerated payments (the “Accelerated Amount”), regardless of whether the Installment Amount scheduled to be paid on such applicable Installment Date shall be paid in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof. In the event that the Investor delivers one or more such notices of acceleration, the aggregated Accelerated Amount shall not be greater than six (6) times such Investor’s pro rata amount.

If the Company fails to redeem the Company Redemption Amount on the applicable Installment Date by payment of the Company Installment Redemption Price on such date, then at the option of the Investor designated in writing to the Company (any such designation shall be deemed a “Conversion Notice” pursuant to the 2020 Convertible Notes), (i) the Investor shall have the rights set forth in the 2020 Convertible Notes as if the Company failed to pay the applicable Company Installment Redemption Price and all other rights as an Investor in the 2020 Convertible Notes (including, without limitation, such failure constituting an Event of Default described in the 2020 Convertible Notes) and (ii) the Investor may require the Company to convert all or any part of the Company Redemption Amount at the Company Conversion Price as in effect on the applicable Installment Date.

Subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations, until the Company Installment Redemption Price is paid in full, the Company Redemption Amount may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Investor into Common Stock. In the event the Investor elects to convert all or any portion of the Company Redemption Amount prior to the applicable Installment Date as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Company Redemption Amount so converted shall be deducted in reverse order starting from the final Installment Amount to be paid on the final Installment Date, unless the Investor otherwise indicates and allocates among any Installment Dates in the applicable Conversion Notice.

Optional Redemption at Company’s Election

At any time after the date of issuance of the 2020 Convertible Notes, the Company will have the right to redeem a portion or all of the 2020 Convertible Notes in cash at a price equal to (i) so long as there has been no Equity Conditions Failure during the period beginning on the date on which the Company provided notice of such redemption through the trading day immediately before the date the Company makes the entire redemption payment, 110% of the Conversion Amount to be redeemed and (ii) if an Equity Conditions Failure occurs (which is not waived in writing by the holder) at any time during the period beginning on the date on which the Company provided notice of such redemption through the trading day immediately before the date the Company makes the entire redemption payment, the greater of (x) 125% of the Conversion Amount to be redeemed and (y) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed and (B) the quotient determined by dividing (I) the greatest closing price of the Common Stock on any trading day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding the date on which the Company provided notice of such redemption and ending on the trading day immediately before the date the Company makes the entire redemption payment, by (II) the lowest Conversion Price in effect during such period.

Conversion of the 2020 Convertible Notes

Each Note is convertible, at the option of the Note holder, into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $1.375, subject to adjustment as provided in the 2020 Convertible Notes; provided, however, upon receipt of Stockholder Approval, the conversion price shall be $0.21, subject to adjustment as provided in the 2020 Convertible Notes.

On or after the date Stockholder Approval is obtained, if the Company issues or sells, or the Company publicly announces the issuance or sale of, any shares of Common Stock, or convertible securities or options issuable or exchangeable into Common Stock (a “New Issuance”), under which such Common Stock is sold for a consideration per share less than the Conversion Price then in effect, the conversion price of the 2020 Convertible Notes will be adjusted to the New Issuance price in accordance with the formulas provided in the 2020 Convertible Notes. Any such adjustment will not apply with respect to the issuance of Excluded Securities (as defined in the 2020 Convertible Notes). Upon Stockholder Approval, the conversion price may be further reduced to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.

March Securities Purchase Agreement

On March 22, 2020, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain long standing investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell, in a registered direct offering by the Company directly to the Investors (the “Registered Offering”), an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares Common Stock at an offering price of $0.2568 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $1.0 million before deducting offering expenses.

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Conversions

On January 15, 2020, 666 shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into an aggregate of 3,171,428 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

Financings

January 2018 Private Placement

On January 8, 2018, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain accredited investors pursuant to which we sold approximately $1,596,340 net, of common stock and warrants to such investors (the “January 2018 Private Placement”). We issued and sold warrants to purchase 592,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share. In addition, we issued to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, as placement agent, warrants to purchase 93,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share.

August Securities Purchase Agreement

On August 17, 2018, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “August 2018 Purchase Agreement”) with certain investors, pursuant to which we agreed to sell (i) an aggregate principal amount of $4.50 million in secured convertible notes, convertible into shares of our common stock, at an initial conversion price of $2.50 per share (the “Secured Convertible Notes”) and (ii) warrants to purchase 1,800,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share. We received $4,186,054 in net proceeds from the offering.

Production Loans

On September 28, 2018, Llama Productions LLC, a California limited liability company (“Llama”) a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan and Security Agreement”) with Bank Leumi USA (the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Lender agreed to make a secured loan in an aggregate amount not to exceed $4,231,989 to Llama (the “Loan”). The proceeds of the Loan were or will be used to pay the majority of the expenses of producing, completing and delivering two 22-minute episodes and sixteen 11-minute episodes of the second season of the animated series Llama Llama to be initially exhibited on Netflix.

In addition, on September 28, 2018, Llama and Lender entered into Amendment No. 2 to Loan and Security Agreement, effective as of August 27, 2018, by and between Llama and the Lender (the “Amendment”). Pursuant to the Amendment, the original Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2016 and amended as of November 7, 2017 (the “Original Loan and Security Agreement”), was amended to (i) reduce the loan commitment thereunder to $1,768,010, which is a reduction of $3,075,406 from the original loan commitment under the Original Loan and Security Agreement and (ii) include the Llama Llama season two obligations under the Loan and Security Agreement as obligations under the Original Loan and Security Agreement.

The Maturity Date of the Prime Rate Loan facility and LIBOR Loan facility is March 31, 2021.

February 2019 Sale of Common Stock and Warrants

On February 19, 2019, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with a certain accredited investor pursuant to which we sold 945,894 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to 945,894 shares of our common stock, or the registered warrants, to such investor (the “February 2019 Offering”). We received $1,757,552 of net proceeds from this offering. Each share of common stock was accompanied by a registered warrant to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $2.12. Each share of common stock and accompanying registered warrant were sold at a combined purchase price of $2.12. The shares of common stock and registered warrants were purchased together and were issued separately and were immediately separable upon issuance. In a concurrent private placement, we also sold to the purchaser in the February 2019 Offering, unregistered warrants to purchase up to an additional 945,894 shares of our common stock.

February Amendment, Waiver and Consent

In connection with the February 2019 Offering and concurrent private placement, we entered into an amendment, waiver and consent agreement, or the “Amendment, Waiver and Consent Agreement,” with certain holders of our 10% Secured Convertible Notes due August 20, 2019, which were issued pursuant a securities purchase agreement, dated August 17, 2018, by and among the Company and the purchasers identified on the signature pages thereto, or the notes purchase agreement. Pursuant to the Amendment, Waiver and Consent Agreement, such holders agreed to amend the notes purchase agreement, waive any applicable rights and remedies under the notes purchase agreement, and consent to the February 2019 Offering and concurrent private placement. In consideration for such Amendment, Waiver and Consent Agreement, we agreed to issue all holders of our 10% Secured Convertible Notes due August 20, 2019 warrants to purchase up to an aggregate amount 1,800,000 shares of our comment stock. Such warrants have an exercise price of $2.55 per share, became exercisable commencing six months and one day from the date of issuance and will expire five (5) years from the date of issuance.

July Amendment, Waiver and Consent

On July 22, 2019, in connection with a proposed public offering of Common Stock (the “August 2019 Offering”), we entered into an amendment, waiver and consent agreement (the “July Amendment, Waiver and Consent”) with certain holders constituting (i) a majority-in-interest of the holders of our Secured Convertible Notes and (ii) 51% in interest of the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a securities purchase agreement, dated as of January 8, 2018, by and among the Company and the purchasers identified on the signature pages thereto (the “January 2018 Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the July Amendment, Waiver and Consent, such holders agreed to amend the August 2018 Purchase Agreement, the January 2018 Purchase Agreement and the Secured Convertible Notes, waive any applicable rights and remedies under each of the August 2018 Purchase Agreement and the January 2018 Purchase Agreement, and consent to the August 2019 Offering in consideration for (i) a reduction in the conversion price of the Secured Convertible Notes from $2.50 per share to an amount equal to $1.515 and (ii) the issuance to the August 2018 Purchasers of new warrants to purchase the same number of shares of Common Stock that were issued to each August 2018 Purchaser pursuant to the August 2018 Purchase Agreement (for an aggregate of 1,800,000 shares of Common Stock to all August 2018 Purchasers) at an exercise price per share equal to $1.14 and became exercisable commencing six (6) months and one day from the date of issuance and will expire five (5) years from the date of issuance.

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Price Adjustments

In connection with the issuance of the warrants described above, the conversion price of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was reduced from $2.12 to $1.14.

On September 18, 2019, we entered into a private transaction (the “Private Transaction”) pursuant to a Warrant Exercise Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the holder of our existing warrants (the “Original Warrants”). The Original Warrants were originally issued on February 19, 2019, to purchase an aggregate of 945,894 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $2.12 per share and were to expire on February 19, 2020.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the holder of the Original Warrants and the Company agreed that such Original Warrant holder would exercise its Original Warrants in full and the Company would amend the Original Warrants to reduce the exercise price thereof to $0.76 (the “Amended Exercise Price”). We received $718,879 from the exercise of the Original Warrants before paying the placement agent fee of $50,321. The induced exercise resulted in the Company recognizing and recording an “imputed dividend” of $181,884. As a result, the conversion price of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock decreased to $0.76.

On November 20, 2019, we entered into a settlement agreement and release (“Settlement Agreement”) with certain holders of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (each, a “Preferred Holder” and collectively, the “Preferred Holders”) constituting 58% of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock in connection with a dispute that arose between the parties with respect to certain rights under the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the 0% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company filed with the Nevada Secretary of State on May 14, 2014 (the “Certificate of Designations”).

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, we agreed to adjust the conversion price of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to $0.21 and the parties agreed to terminate and deem null and void that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2014, by and among the Preferred Holders and the other parties signatories thereto, with respect to the Preferred Holders. The Preferred Holders, constituting the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares (the “Required Holders”), agreed and consented to an amendment and restatement of the Certificate of Designations. The parties also agreed to customary releases and a covenant not to sue as further contained in the Settlement Agreement.

Stock Purchase Agreement

On October 2, 2019, the Company and Andy Heyward, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, entered into a stock purchase agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Heyward agreed to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock, in a private placement for an aggregate purchase price of $760,000, or $0.76 per share (the “Private Placement”). The Private Placement closed on October 3, 2019.

Stock Issued For Services

On October 18, 2019, in exchange for freelance animation services, the Company issued a total of 534,247 shares of Common Stock to a vendor.

October Securities Purchase Agreement

On October 28, 2019, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with a certain investor named therein (the “Investor”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell, in a registered direct offering by the Company directly to the Investor (the “Registered Offering”), an aggregate of 663,158 shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock, at an offering price of $0.76 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $504,000 before deducting the placement agent fee and related offering expenses.

The Shares were offered by the Company pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-214805), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on November 25, 2016 and was declared effective by the Commission on December 19, 2016 (the “Registration Statement”).

In a concurrent private placement (the “Private Placement” and together with the Registered Offering, the “Offerings”), the Company agreed to issue to the Investor who participated in the Registered Offering warrants (the “Warrants” and collectively with the Shares, the “Securities”) exercisable for one share of Common Stock for an aggregate of 477,474 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.76 per share. Each Warrant will be immediately exercisable on the date of its issuance and will expire five years from the date it becomes exercisable. Subject to limited exceptions, a holder of a Warrant will not have the right to exercise any portion of its warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that upon 61 days’ prior notice to the Company, the holder may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, provided further that in no event shall the Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 9.99%.

December Warrant Exercise Agreement

On December 16, 2019, the Company entered into Warrant Exercise Agreements (the “Exercise Agreements”) with certain of the holders of Existing Warrants (defined herein) to purchase an aggregate of 3,646,135 shares of Common Stock (the “Exercising Holders”). Pursuant to the Exercise Agreements, the Exercising Holders and the Company agreed that, subject to any applicable beneficial ownership limitations, the Exercising Holders would exercise their Existing Warrants (the “Investor Warrants”) for shares of Common Stock underlying such Existing Warrants (the “Exercised Shares”) at a reduced exercise price of $0.21 per share of Common Stock. In order to induce the Exercising Holders to cash exercise the Investor Warrants, the Exercise Agreements provided for the issuance of new warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 3,646,135 shares of Common Stock (the “New Warrants”), with such New Warrants issued in an amount equal to the number of the Exercised Shares underlying any Investor Warrants. The Company used a portion of these cash proceeds towards payment of certain Secured Convertible Notes.

Results of Operations

Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Our summary results for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are below.

Licensing and royalty revenue include items for which we license the rights to our copyrights and trademarks of our brands and those of the brands for which we act as a licensing agent. During the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to December 31, 2018, this category increased $414,820, or 92%, primarily due to increases revenues generated from Rainbow Rangers and Llama Llama properties in 2019.

Television & Home Entertainment revenue is generated from distribution of our properties for broadcast on television, VOD, or SVOD in domestic and international markets and the sale of DVDs for home entertainment through our partners. Fluctuations in Television & Home Entertainment revenue occur period over period based on the achievement of revenue recognition criteria such as the start of a license period and the delivery of the content to the customer. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Television & Home Entertainment revenue increased $4,493,363 or 1,388%, primarily due to the revenue generated in 2019 from the delivery of the Llama Llama Season 2 to Netflix and Rainbow Rangers Season 1 to Nickelodeon and Shanghai Senyu Media in China.

Advertising sales are generated on the Kid Genius Cartoon Channel in the form of either flat rate promotions or advertising impressions served. Advertising sales increased by $5,660, or 3%, during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 primarily due to the addition of new distribution partners, increased advertising impressions served and additional ad campaigns in 2019. This was a result of our efforts to continue to grow this area of the business through new distribution channels and with new partners.

Product sales represent physical products in which we hold intellectual property rights such as trademarks and copyrights to the characters and which are manufactured and sold by us directly. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, product sales associated with Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaire Club increased by $604, or 26%, due to additional Warren Buffet doll sales in 2019.

Marketing and sales expenses decreased $7,922, or 1%, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to a slight decrease in marketing and advertising expenses to promote the Rainbow Rangers and Llama Llama properties.

Direct operating costs include costs of our product sales, unamortizable post-production costs, film and television cost amortization expense, and participation expense related to agreements with various animation studios, post-production studios, writers, directors, musicians or other creative talent with which we are obligated to share net profits of the properties on which they have rendered services. Direct operating costs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 increased $3,031,775, or 197%, compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, we recorded film and television cost amortization expense of $2,230,024 and participation expense of $1,690,936, compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, where we recorded expenses of $1,079,723 and $397,988, respectively. The increases in direct operating costs in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the prior year reflect increases in film amortization expense, participation expense and dubbing costs related to the delivery of Llama Llama to Netflix and the delivery of Rainbow Rangers to Nickelodeon in 2019.

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, employee benefits, share-based compensation related to stock options, insurances, rent, depreciation and amortization as well as other professional fees related to finance, accounting, legal and investor relations. General and administrative costs for twelve months ended December 31, 2019 increased $2,132,899, or 43%, compared to the same period in 2018. This increase is primarily due to an increase of $769,658 in professional fees, $598,788 in increased salaries and wages, $396,788 in increased rent expense, and $200,847 in increase stock based compensation. Fluctuations in other general and administrative expenses comprise the balance of the variance.

In connection with the Merger in 2013, the Company acquired $1,740,000 of Identifiable Artistic-Related Assets. These assets, related to certain properties owned by A Squared and assumed by the Company, were valued using an independent firm. Based on certain legal, regulatory, contractual, and economic factors, the Company has deemed these assets to be indefinite-lived. Hence, pursuant to FASB ASC 350-30, these assets are not subject to amortization and are tested annually for impairment. As of December 31, 2018, the Company performed an analysis and determined the Identifiable Artistic-Related Intangible Assets no longer have value and as a result has recognized $1,740,000 of impairment expense related to the Identifiable Artistic-Related Intangible Assets. No additional impairment expense was recorded.

Interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 decreased $212,171, compared to the same period in 2018. This decrease is due to the amortization of the debt issue costs, the amortization of the debt discount related to the $4,500,000 of Senior Convertible, and interest expense in 2018.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working Capital

As of December 31, 2019, we had current assets of $4,646,249, including cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $305,121, and current liabilities of $8,296,385, resulting in negative working capital of $3,650,136, compared to a working capital of $971,663 as of December 31, 2018.

Increases in working capital were the result of three transactions:

January 2018 Private Placement

On January 8, 2018, the Company entered into the January 2018 Private Placement. We issued and sold warrants to purchase 592,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share. In addition, we issued to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, as placement agent, warrants to purchase 93,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share. The Company received $1,596,340 in net proceeds from this transaction.

Securities Purchase Agreement

On August 17, 2018, the Company entered into the August 2018 Purchase Agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell (i) the Secured Convertible Notes and (ii) the Warrants. We received $4,186,054 in net proceeds from the offering.

Production Loans

On September 28, 2018, Llama, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Loan and Security Agreement with the Lender, pursuant to which the Lender agreed to make the Loan, not to exceed $4,231,989, to Llama. The proceeds of the Loan were or will be used to pay the majority of the expenses of producing, completing and delivering two 22-minute episodes and sixteen 11-minute episodes of the second season of the animated series Llama Llama to be initially exhibited on Netflix.

In addition, on September 28, 2018, Llama and Lender entered into the Amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement. Pursuant to the Amendment, the Original Loan and Security Agreement was amended to (i) reduce the loan commitment thereunder to $1,768,010, which is a reduction of $3,075,406 from the original loan commitment under the Original Loan and Security Agreement and (ii) include the Llama Llama season two obligations under the Loan and Security Agreement as obligations under the Original Loan and Security Agreement.

The Maturity Date of the Prime Rate Loan facility and LIBOR Loan facility is March 31, 2021.

Decreases in working capital were:

Production costs for Rainbow Rangers Season 2 of $2,686,904.

Repayment of the Secured Convertible Notes including interest totaling $2,039,829.

An increase in General and Administrative expenses of $2,132,899 primarily resulting from an increase in salaries and wages, professional fees, rent expense and stock-based compensation expense.

Comparison of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Our total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash were $305,121 and $3,085,026 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, our primary sources of cash from financing activities including the $2,517,552 in net sales of common stock, and $1,345,368 in proceeds from warrant exchanges. During the year ended December 31, 2018, our primary sources of cash were from the $1,596,340 raised from the January 2018 Private Placement, the issuance of $4,186,054 of senior secured notes (the “Senior Secured Notes”) and the September Production Loans.

Operating Activities

Cash used in operating activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $6,251,150 as compared to cash used in operating activities of $8,008,011 during the prior period. The decrease in cash used in operating activities is primarily due to a decrease in production costs, an increase in accounts receivable and a loss on extinguishment of debt. The decrease was partially offset by the increase in net loss for 2019 and by the impairment loss on intangible assets in 2018.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $26,976 as compared to a use of $42,985 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. Investing activities include the development of certain intangible assets and the purchase of furniture and equipment in 2019.

Financing Activities

Cash generated from financing activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $3,498,221 as compared to $3,637,950 generated in the comparable period in 2018. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, the sources of cash generated from financing activities were $2,517,552 in net sales of common stock, and $1,345,368 in proceeds from warrant exchange, offset by $1,633,336 in repayment of the Senior Secured Notes. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the $1,596,341 in net proceeds from the warrant exchange and $4,186,054 in net proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes. The use of cash was the repayment of the production facility in the amount of $2,144,445.

Capital Expenditures

As of December 31, 2019, we do not have any material commitments for capital expenditures.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our accounting policies are described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Below is a summary of the critical accounting policies, among others, that management believes involve significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Genius Brands International, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries A Squared and Llama Productions as well as its interest in Stan Lee Comics, LLC (“Stan Lee Comics”). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations accounted for by the purchase method. In accordance with FASB ASC 350 Intangibles Goodwill and Other, goodwill and certain intangible assets are presumed to have indefinite useful lives and are thus not amortized, but subject to an impairment test annually or more frequently if indicators of impairment arise. We complete the annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment tests at the end of each fiscal year. To test for goodwill impairment, we are required to estimate the fair market value of each of our reporting units, of which we have one. While we may use a variety of methods to estimate fair value for impairment testing, our primary method is discounted cash flows. We estimate future cash flows and allocations of certain assets using estimates for future growth rates and our judgment regarding the applicable discount rates. Changes to our judgments and estimates could result in a significantly different estimate of the fair market value of the reporting units, which could result in an impairment of goodwill or indefinite lived intangible assets in future periods.

Other intangible assets have been acquired, either individually or with a group of other assets, and were initially recognized and measured based on fair value. In accordance with FASB ASC 350 Intangible Assets, the costs of new product development and significant improvement to existing products are capitalized while routine and periodic alterations to existing products are expensed as incurred. Annual amortization of these intangible assets is computed based on the straight-line method over the remaining economic life of the asset.

Film and Television Costs

We capitalize production costs for episodic series produced in accordance with FASB ASC 926-20 Entertainment-Films – Other Assets – Film Costs. Accordingly, production costs are capitalized at actual cost and then charged against revenue based on the initial market revenue evidenced by a firm commitment over the period of commitment. We expense all capitalized costs that exceed the initial market firm commitment revenue in the period of delivery of the episodes.

We capitalize production costs for films produced in accordance with FASB ASC 926-20 Entertainment-Films – Other Assets – Film Costs. Accordingly, production costs are capitalized at actual cost and then charged against revenue quarterly as a cost of production based on the relative fair value of the film(s) delivered and recognized as revenue. We evaluate our capitalized production costs annually and limit recorded amounts by our ability to recover such costs through expected future sales.

Additionally, for both episodic series and films, from time to time, we develop additional content, improved animation and bonus songs/features for our existing content. After the initial release of the film or episodic series, the costs of significant improvement to existing products are capitalized while routine and periodic alterations to existing products are expensed as incurred.

Debt and Attached Equity Linked Instruments

The Company measures issued debt on an amortized cost basis, net of debt premium/discount and debt issuance costs amortized using the effective interest rate method or the straight-line method when the latter does not lead to materially different results.

The Company accounts for the proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes payable in accordance with FASB ASC 470-20 Debt with Conversion and Other Options. Pursuant to FASB ASC 470-20, the intrinsic value of the embedded conversion feature (beneficial conversion interest), which is in the money on the commitment date is included in the discount to debt and amortized to interest expense over the term of the note agreement. When the conversion option is not separated, the Company accounts for the entire convertible instrument including debt and the conversion feature as a liability.

The Company analyzes freestanding equity-linked instruments including warrants attached to debt to conclude whether the instrument meets the definition of the derivative and whether it is considered indexed to the Company’s own stock. If the instrument is not considered indexed to Company’s stock, it is classified as an asset or liability recorded at fair value. If the instrument is considered indexed to Company’s stock, the Company analyzes additional equity classification requirements per ASC 815-40 Contract’s in Entity’s Own Equity. When the requirements are met the instrument is recorded as part of Company’s equity, initially measured based on its relative fair value with no subsequent re-measurement. When the equity classification requirements are not met, the instrument is recorded as an asset or liability, measured at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recorded in earnings.

When required, the Company also considers the bifurcation guidance for embedded derivatives per FASB ASC 815-15 Embedded Derivatives.

Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new accounting standard ASC 606 (Topic 606), Revenue from Contracts with Customers and all the related amendments (“new revenue standard”) using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under ASC 605, (Topic 605).

Accordingly, on January 1, 2018 the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning accumulated deficit in the amount of $206,245. The impact to our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, resulting from the adoption of Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018 was a reduction of revenue in the amount of $188,734, and a corresponding reduction in costs in the amount of $57,269, from the amounts reported. The amounts prior to adoption were not recognized pursuant to Topic 606 and would have been reported pursuant to Topic 605.

Changes to the opening balances in prepaid and other assets, film and television costs, total assets, accrued expenses, deferred revenue and total liabilities resulting from the adoption of the new guidance were as follows (thousands):

The Company performed its analysis of its existing revenue contracts and has completed its new revenue accounting policy documentation under the new standard. The Company has identified the following six material and distinct performance obligations:

As a result of the change, beginning January 1, 2018, the Company began recognizing revenue related to licensed rights to exploit functional IP in two ways. For minimum guarantees, the Company recognizes fixed revenue upon delivery of content and the start of the license period. For functional IP contracts with a variable component, the Company estimates revenue such that it is probable there will not be a material reversal of revenue in future periods. Revenue under these types of contracts was previously recognized when royalty statements were received. The Company began recognizing revenue related to licensed rights to exploit symbolic IP substantially similarly to functional IP. Although it has a different recognition pattern from functional IP, the valuation method is substantially the same, depending on the nature of the license.

The Company sells advertising on its Kid Genius channel in the form of either flat rate promotions or impressions served. For flat rate promotions with a fixed term, the Company recognizes revenue when all five revenue recognition criteria under FASB ASC 606 are met. For impressions served, the Company delivers a certain minimum number of impressions on the channel to the advertiser for which the advertiser pays a contractual costs per thousand (CPM) per impression. Impressions served are reported to the Company on a monthly basis, and revenue is reported in the month the impressions are served.

The Company recognizes revenue related to product sales when (i) the seller’s price is substantially fixed, (ii) shipment has occurred causing the buyer to be obligated to pay for product, (iii) the buyer has economic substance apart from the seller, and (iv) there is no significant obligation for future performance to directly bring about the resale of the product by the buyer.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, “Leases.” The standard requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet. A lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements, which allows for an additional optional transition method where comparative periods presented in the financial statements in the period of adoption will not be restated and instead those periods will be presented under existing guidance in accordance with ASC 840, Leases. Management will use this optional transition method. As of January 1, 2019, management recorded lease liability of $2,071,903, right-of-use asset of $2,029,677, a reversal of previously recorded deferred rent of $37,920 and the increase in accumulated deficit of $4,306.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”, which requires an entity to perform a one-step quantitative impairment test, whereby a goodwill impairment loss will be measured as the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value (not to exceed the total goodwill allocated to that reporting unit). It eliminates Step 2 of the current two-step goodwill impairment test, under which a goodwill impairment loss is measured by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. The standard is effective January 1, 2020, with early adoption as of January 1, 2017 permitted. We adopted ASU 2017-04 in 2019. The impact to our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows was minimal.

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-11 addressing, among other matters, accounting for certain financial instruments. One of the amendments in this guidance intended to reduce the complexity associated with the issuer’s accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. Specifically, the Board determined that a down round feature (as defined) would no longer cause a freestanding equity-linked financial instrument (or an embedded conversion option) to be accounted for as a derivative liability at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. ASU 2017-11 was effective for public business entities for fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018. We adopted ASU 2017-11 in 2019. The impact to our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows was minimal.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”), which changes the fair value measurement disclosure requirements of ASC 820. The update removes some disclosures, modifies others, and adds some new disclosure requirements. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2018-13 in 2019. The impact to our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows were not material.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”), which supersedes ASC 505-05 and expands the scope of ASC 718 to include all share-based payment arranges related to the acquisition of goods and services from both nonemployees and employee. As a result, most of the guidance in ASC 718 associated with employee share-based payments, including most of its requirements related to classification and measurement, applies to nonemployee share-based payment arrangements. ASC 2018-07 is effective for all entities for fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within that fiscal year. We adopted ASU 2018-07 in 2019. The impact to our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows were not material.

In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-02, Entertainment-Films-Other Assets-Film Costs (Subtopic 926-20) and Entertainment-Broadcasters Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Subtopic 920-350). The update aligns the accounting for production costs of an episodic television series with the accounting for production costs of films by removing the content distinction for capitalization. The amendments also require that an entity reassess estimates of the use of a film in a film group and account for any changes prospectively. The amendments in this update require that an entity test a film or license agreement for program material within the scope of Subtopic 920-350 for impairment at a film group level when the film or license agreement is predominantly monetized with other films and/or license agreements. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted ASU 2019-02 in 2019. The impact to our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows were not material.

Various other accounting pronouncements have been recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or were applicable to specific industries/transactions or special circumstances and are not expected to have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

As a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide information required by this Item.

The financial statements are included herein commencing on page F-1.

None.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer and effected by our board of directors, management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:

Because of our inherent limitations, our internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013 Framework).

Based on this assessment, our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer), has concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, our internal control over financial reporting were effective based on those criteria.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’). Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon our evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective for the year ended December 31, 2019 in ensuring that information that we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of our last fiscal year that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

None.

PART III

Board of Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons

The following table sets forth information about our directors and executive officers as of March 30, 2020:

_______

* Denotes directors who are “independent” under applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules.

Our directors hold office until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal or until their successors have been elected and qualified.

On March 19, 2020, Bernard Cahill due to personal reasons, decided he could no longer maintain his position as a member of the Board and as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board, and departed effective as of that date. Mr. Cahill’s departure was not as a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matters related to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

The following sections of the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year on December 31, 2019 (the “2020 Proxy Statement”), are incorporated by reference: “The Board of Directors,” “Family Relationships,” “Board Leadership and Role in Risk Oversight,” “Committees of the Board of Directors and Meetings” and “Code of Conduct and Ethics”.

Corporate Governance

General

We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure that the Company is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders. This section describes key corporate governance practices that we have adopted.

The response to this item is incorporate by reference from the discussion responsive thereto under the caption “Executive Officer and Director Compensation” in our 2020 Proxy Statement.

The response to this item is incorporated by reference from this discussion responsive thereto under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our 2020 Proxy Statement.

The response to this item is incorporated by reference from this discussion responsive thereto under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” and “Management and Corporate Governance” in our 2020 Proxy Statement.

Independence of the Board of Directors

Our determination of the independence of our directors is made using the definition of “independent” contained in the listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market. On the basis of information solicited from each director, the board has determined that each of each of Messrs. Davis, Hallren, Klein and Thomopoulos as well as Ms. Segall and Ms. Loesch are independent directors within the meaning of such rules.

The response to this item is incorporated by reference from this discussion responsive thereto under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal No. 5)” in our 2020 Proxy Statement.

PART IV

Financial Statements

See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at Item 8 herein.

Financial Statement Schedules have been omitted as they are either not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included.

EXHIBIT INDEX

__________

None

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, thereunto duly authorized.

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Andy Heyward and Robert L. Denton, jointly and severally, attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact, or substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Genius Brands International, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Genius Brands International, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Going Concern Uncertainty

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses, negative cash flows from operations and has an accumulated deficit that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, with respect to the ongoing and evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which was designated as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, the outbreak has caused substantial disruption in international and U.S. economies and markets and if repercussions of the outbreak are prolonged, could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s business. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States of America) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Squar Milner LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.

Los Angeles, California

March 30, 2020

Genius Brands International, Inc. And Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Genius Brands International, Inc. And Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Genius Brands International, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

Years Ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Genius Brands International, Inc. And Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Genius Brands International, Inc. And Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018