Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4, 2020July 25, 2023

 

Registration No. 333-         

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Kartoon Studios, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada

20-4118216
(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

20-4118216

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

Number)

 

190 N. Canon Drive, 4th Floor4th Fl.

Beverly Hills, CA90210

(310)273-4222

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Andy Heyward


Chief Executive Officer

Genius Brands International,
Kartoon Studios,
Inc.


190 N. Canon Drive, 4th Floor4th Fl.

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

(310) 273-4222

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies

With a copy to:

Lawrence Elbaum
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
1114 Avenue of the Americas

32nd Floor

Mark G. Pedretti

Tadashi Okamoto

Reed Smith LLP
599 Lexington Avenue
New York NY 10022
(212) 521-5400

Kimberly P. Stein

Flangas Law Group

3275 South Jones Blvd., Suite 105

Las Vegas, Nevada 89146

(702) 307-9500

New York, NY 10036
(212) 237-0000

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Formform are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Formform are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.

 

If this Formform is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

 

If this Formform is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated FilerAccelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated FilerSmaller Reporting Company
Emerging Growth Company  
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
 
Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered

Amount of Securities

to be

Registered(1)

Proposed Maximum

Offering Price

per Share(2)

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price

Amount of

Registration Fee(1)

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share(2)(3)(3)
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share(2)(3)(3)
Debt Securities(2)(3)(3)
Warrants(2)(3)(3)
Rights(2)(3)(3)
Units

(2)

(3)

(3)

Total  $100,000,000$12,980.00

__________

(1)Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

(2)There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of shares of common stock, such indeterminate number of shares of preferred stock, such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities, such indeterminate number of warrants and rights, and such indeterminate number of units, as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $100,000,000. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $100,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The proposed maximum initial offering price per unit will be determined, from time to time, by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder. The securities registered also include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and amount of debt securities as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or rights or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(3)The proposed maximum aggregate offering price per class of security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

The Registrantregistrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrantregistrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WETHESE SECURITIES MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIESBE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES, AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATEJURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

Subject to Completion, dated September 4, 2020July 25, 2023

 

ProspectusPROSPECTUS

 

GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL,KARTOON STUDIOS, INC.

 

$100,000,0004,784,909 Shares of Common Stock

 

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

DEBT SECURITIES

WARRANTS

RIGHTS

UNITS 

This prospectus will allowrelates to the possible resale by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus (the “selling stockholders”) of an aggregate of up to 4,784,909 shares of common stock of Kartoon Studios, Inc. (“we,” “us” or the “Company”), par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), issuable upon exercise of certain outstanding Common Stock purchase warrants, issued by us to issue,the selling stockholders on June 26, 2023 (the “Warrants”).

The selling stockholders may, from time to time, at prices and on terms to be determined atsell, transfer, or prior to the time of the offering, up to $100,000,000otherwise dispose of any combinationor all of thetheir securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in units. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of or exchange for the debt securities; common stock or preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants or rights;or any combination of these securities in the form of units.

This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide you with the specific terms of any offering in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this document. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as any documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest.

Our securities may be sold directly by us to you, through agents designated from time to time on any stock exchange, market, or totrading facility on which the securities are traded or through underwriters or dealers. For additional information onin private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the methodstime of sale, you should referat prices related to the section entitled “Planprevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of Distribution”sale, or at negotiated prices. See “Plan of Distribution.” We do not know when or in what amount the selling stockholders may offer the securities for sale. The selling stockholders may sell any, all or none of the securities offered in this prospectus and inprospectus.

The Warrants are not exercisable until our stockholders approve the applicable prospectus supplement. Ifissuance of the shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants are exercisable at any underwriters or agentstime following stockholder approval. We are involved insoliciting stockholder approval at our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on August 25, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Meeting”). See “Prospectus Summary – Recent Developments – Stockholder Approval.”

We are not offering any securities for sale under this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our securities by the selling stockholders. All expenses of registration incurred in connection with respect to which this prospectus isoffering are being delivered,borne by us. All selling and other expenses incurred by the names of such underwriters or agents and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts and over-allotment optionsselling stockholders will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The priceborne by the selling stockholders. We will, however, to the public of such securities andextent the netWarrants are exercised for cash, receive proceeds that we expect to receive from such sale will alsoexercises; to the extent we receive such proceeds, they are expected to be set forth in a prospectus supplement.used for general corporate and working capital purposes. 

 

Our common stockCommon Stock is listedquoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market,NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) under the symbol “GNUS.“TOON.” On September 3, 2020,July 24, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital MarketCommon Stock was $1.06$1.96 per share.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks that we have describedrisks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 37 of this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.” We may include specific risk factors in supplements to this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.” This prospectus may not be used to sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.prospectus.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined ifpassed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus is truthful or complete.prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus isTHE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS , 2020.2023.

  

 

 

   

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

About This ProspectusiiPage

Prospectus SummaryABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

1
Risk FactorsSPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS32
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsPROSPECTUS SUMMARY34
Use of ProceedsRISK FACTORS5
Plan of Distribution5
Description of Capital Stock7
Description of Debt SecuritiesUSE OF PROCEEDS108
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS9
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION11
LEGAL MATTERS13

EXPERTS

13
Description of WarrantsINTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL1213
Description of RightsWHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION1413
Description of UnitsINCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE15
Legal Matters16
Experts16
Where You Can Find More Information16
Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference1614

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 i 

 

About This ProspectusABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed withrelates to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer shares of our common stock, preferred stock, various series of debt securities and/or warrants or rights, either individually or in units, in one or more offerings, with a total valueresale by the selling stockholders of up to $100,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description4,784,909 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or seriesWarrants held by the selling stockholders named herein, as described below under “Selling Stockholders.” We are not selling any shares of securitiesCommon Stock under this prospectus, weand will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information aboutnot receive any proceeds from the termssale of that offering. We are subjectshares of Common Stock by the selling stockholders, except with respect to amount received by us upon the provisions of General Instruction I.B.6.exercise of the General Instructions to Form S-3, which provide that as long as the aggregate market value of our outstanding voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of our company is less than $75 million, then the aggregate market value of securities sold by us or on our behalf on Form S-3, during the period of 12 calendar months immediately prior to, and including, the sale, is no more than one-third of the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of our company.

This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. However, no prospectus supplement will offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, includes all material information relating to the offering of securities under this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, the information and documents incorporated herein by reference and the additional information under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before making an investment decision.Warrants for cash.

 

You should rely only on the information we have providedcontained or incorporated by reference ininto this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.prospectus. We have not, and the selling stockholders have not, authorized anyone to provide you with informationadditional or different from that contained or incorporated by referenceinformation. These securities are not being offered in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other personany jurisdiction where the offer is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representation. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated herein by reference is accurate only as of the date of the documentdocuments incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of a security.

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of our securities, unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. To the extent there are inconsistencies between any prospectus supplement, this prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference, the document with the most recent date will control.

We were incorporated in California on January 3, 2006 and reincorporated in Nevada in October 2011. Our principal executive offices are located at 190 North Canon Drive, 4th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 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. We have included our website address in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only and not as an active hyperlink.

Common Stock. Unless the context otherwise requires, “Genius Brands,references to “we,“the Company,” “we,“our,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Genius Brands International,or the “Company” in this prospectus mean Kartoon Studios, Inc., together with its subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 ii1

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words, such as “anticipate,” “could,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “potential,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. These include, among other things, statements regarding:

·our ability to generate revenue or achieve profitability;
·our ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all;
·fluctuations in the results of our operations from period to period;
·general economic and financial conditions; the adverse effects of public health epidemics, including the recent coronavirus outbreak, on our business, results of operations and financial condition;
·our ability to anticipate changes in popular culture, media and movies, fashion and technology;
·competitive pressure from other distributors of content and within the retail market;
·our reliance on and relationships with third-party production and animation studios;
·our ability to market and advertise our products;
·our reliance on third-parties to promote our products;
·our ability to keep pace with technological advances;
·performance of our information technology and storage systems;
·a disruption or breach of our internal computer systems;
·our ability to retain key personnel;
·our ability to successfully identify appropriate acquisition targets, successfully acquire identified targets and successfully integrate the business of acquired companies;
·the impact of federal, state or local regulations on us or our vendors and licensees;
·our ability to protect and defend against litigation, including intellectual property claims;
·the volatility of our stock price;
·the marketability of our stock;
·our broad discretion to invest or spend the proceeds of our financings in ways with which our stockholders may not agree and may have limited ability to influence; and
·other risks and uncertainties, including those listed in the section on “Risk Factors.”

2

Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this prospectus may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Actual results may vary materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements. The uncertainties that may cause differences include, but are not limited to: our need for additional funds to finance our operations; our history of losses; anticipated continuing losses and uncertainty of future financing; market acceptance of our services; the sufficiency of our existing capital resources; competition from other companies; the risk of technological obsolescence; uncertainties related to our ability to obtain intellectual property protection for our technology; and dependence on officers, directors and other individuals.

We will not update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. You are advised to consult any further disclosures we make in our reports to the SEC, including our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Our filings list various important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. We note these factors for investors as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

3 

 

 

Prospectus SummaryPROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights some information from this prospectus. It may not contain all the information importantThe following is only a summary. We urge you to making an investment decision. You should read the following summary together withentire prospectus, including the more detailed information regarding our Company andconsolidated financial statements, notes to the securities being sold in this offering, including “Risk Factors”consolidated financial statements and other information included herein or incorporated by reference herein.from our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Investing in our securities involves risks. Therefore, please carefully consider the information provided under the heading “Risk Factors” starting on page 7.

 

Business Overview

 

Genius Brands International,Kartoon Studios, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) is a global content and brand management company that creates, produces, licenses, and licensesbroadcasts timeless and educational, multimedia content. animated content for children. Led by experienced industry personnel, we distribute our content in all formats as well asprimarily on streaming platforms and television and license properties for a broad range of consumer products based on our characters. We are a “work for hire” producer for many of the streaming outlets and animated content intellectual property ("IP") holders. In the children’s media sector, our portfolio features “content with a purpose” for toddlers to tweens, which providesproviding enrichment as well as entertainment. New intellectual propertyWith the exception of selected Wow Unlimited Media Inc. titles, our programs, along with licensed programs, are being broadcast in the United States on our wholly-owned advertisement supported video on demand (“AVOD”) service, our free ad supported TV ("FAST") channels and subscription video on demand (“SVOD”) outlets, Kartoon Channel!and Ameba. These streaming services are available on Apple TV, Apple iOS, Android TV, Android mobile, Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire, Tubi, Roku, Comcast, Cox, Dish/Sling, Xumo, Pluto, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, as well as YouTube, among other platforms. Our in-house owned and produced animated shows include the preschool propertyStan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Llama Llama starring Jennifer Garner, Rainbow Rangers, KC Pop Quiz, which debuted in November 2018 on Nickelodeon and which was renewed for a second season, and preschool property Llama LlamaShaq’s Garage, which debuted on Netflix in January 2018 and was renewed by Netflix for a second season. starring Shaquille O’Neal. Our library titles include the award winningaward-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 Kartoon Channel! on Comcast’s Xfinity on Demand, AppleTV, Roku, Amazon Fire, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Cox, Dish, SlingTeam Zenko Go!, Reboot, Bee & PuppyCat: Lazy in Space and Zumo as well as Connected TV. We are also developing an all-new animated series, Stan Lee’s Superhero KindergartenCastlevania with Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, Oak Productions and Alibaba. Arnold Schwarzenegger lends his voice as the lead and is also an Executive Producer on the series. The show will be broadcast in the United States on Amazon Prime and the Company’s wholly owned distribution outlet, Kartoon Channel!.

 

We also license our programs to other services worldwide, in addition to the operation of our own channels, including but not limited to Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, and satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcasters around the world.

Through our investments in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment (“YFE”), a publicly traded company on the Frankfurt Exchange (RTV-Frankfurt), we have gained access to one of the largest animation catalogues in Europe with over 50 titles consisting of over 1,600 episodes, and a global distribution network which currently covers over 60 territories worldwide.

Through the ownership of WOW Unlimited Media Inc. (“Wow”), we established an affiliate relationship with Mainframe Studios, which is one of the largest animation producers in the world. In addition, Wow owns Frederator Networks Inc. (“Frederator”) and its Channel Frederator Network, the largest animation focused multi-channel network on YouTube with over 2,500 channels. We have rights to a select amount of valuable IP, included among them a controlling interest in Stan Lee Universe (“SLU”), through which we control the name, likeness, signature, and all consumer product and IP rights to Stan Lee (the “Stan Lee Assets”). We also own Beacon Media Group ("Beacon"), the largest media buying service for children in North America. Beacon represents over 30 major toy companies, including Playmobile, Bandai Toys, Bazooka, Moose Toys, and JAKKS Pacific.

In addition, we act as licensing agentown the Canadian company Ameba Inc. (“Ameba”), which distributes SVOD service for Penguin Young Readers,kids, and has become the focal point of revenue growth for TOON Media Networks subscription offering.

We and our affiliates provide world class animation production studios, a divisioncatalogue representing thousands of Penguin Random House LLC who owns or controls the underlying rights to Llama Llama, leveraging our existinghours of premium global content for children, a broadcast system for delivering that content and an in-house consumer products licensing infrastructure to expand this brand into new product categories, new retailers, and new territories.

Recent Developments

On August 27, 2020, our stockholders approved, a proposed amendment tofully exploit the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to increase the authorized number of shares of the Company’s common stock from 233,333,334 to 400,000,000 in order to enable the Company to efficiently take advantage of accretive opportunities, largely targeting acquisitions, which may arise and provide enriched shareholder value as the media industry undergoes a period of consolidation and the 2020 Incentive Plan, which will replace the Company’s 2015 Amended Incentive Plan for all future equity-based incentive awards and enable the Company to attract, motivate, and retain qualified individuals upon whom its business and accretive growth strategy depends.

On August 18, 2020, the Company and its Chief Executive Officer Andy Heyward were named as defendants in a putative class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and styled Salvador Verdin v. Genius Brands International, Inc. and Andy Heyward, Case No. 2:20-cv-07457-DDP-PJW. Plaintiff, who wishes to represent a class of persons who acquired Company securities from March 17 through July 5, 2020, alleges generally that defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by making materially false or misleading statement regarding the Company’s business and business prospects, artificially inflating the Company’s stock price. Plaintiff seeks unspecified damages on behalf of the alleged class. The Verdin lawsuit and any similar later-filed actions are subject to procedures specified in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, including the selection and appointment by the court of a lead plaintiff and plaintiff’s counsel. These procedures mean that little if any substantive activity in the litigation is expected until after the court’s appointment of a lead plaintiff, which is unlikely to occur before November 2020. In the meantime, defendants deny any wrongdoing, including as alleged in the Verdin complaint, believe the lawsuit lacks legal or factual merit, and intend to defend the claims vigorouslycontent.

 

 

 

 14

Recent Developments

Exercise of Existing Warrants and Issuance of New Warrants

On June 26, 2023, we entered into certain warrant exercise inducement offer letters (the “Letter Agreements”) with certain selling stockholders pursuant to which such holders agreed to exercise for cash certain warrants issued by us in January 2021 (the “2021 Warrants”) to purchase 2,311,550 shares of Common Stock (the “Exercise”). To induce the Exercise by holders of the 2021 Warrants, we also amended the exercise price of the 2021 Warrants from $23.70 per share (as adjusted pursuant to a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of Common Stock effected on February 10, 2023) to $2.50 per share pursuant to the terms of the 2021 Warrants. In consideration for the Exercise, the exercising holders received warrants to purchase up to 4,623,100 shares of Common Stock, and the Special Equities Group, LLC, a division of Dawson James Securities, which acted as warrant solicitation agent for the Exercise, received a warrant to purchase up to 161,809 shares of Common Stock (collectively, the “Warrants”). The Warrants will be exercisable at any time at a price per share of $2.50 upon approval by our stockholders of (a) a proposal to approve a proposed amendment to our articles of incorporation to increase our authorized shares of Common Stock from 40,000,000 shares to 190,000,000 shares with a corresponding increase in the total number of authorized shares of capital stock of the Company from 50,000,000 shares to 200,000,000 shares (the “Share Increase Proposal”) and (b) a proposal to approve, in accordance with 713(A) of the NYSE American Company Guide, the issuance of more than 19.99% of our outstanding Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Exercise Proposal” and together with the Share Increase Proposal, the “Proposals”). The Warrants have a term of exercise of five years. We also agreed to file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants no later than 30 days following the date of the Letter Agreements.

Stockholder Approval

The exercise of the Warrants in full is subject to approval by our stockholders of the Proposals. At the 2023 Annual Meeting, to be held on August 25, 2023, we are seeking stockholder approval of the Proposals, as further described below. If we do not obtain stockholder approval for the Proposals at the 2023 Annual Meeting, we have agreed to call a meeting of stockholders every 90 days thereafter to seek stockholder approval until stockholder approval is obtained for the Proposals.

Share Increase Proposal

Our Articles of Incorporation currently authorize the issuance of 40,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As a condition to the Exercise as described above, we agreed to submit and recommend to our stockholders a proposal to approve an amendment to our articles of incorporation to increase our authorized shares of Common Stock from 40,000,000 shares to 190,000,000 shares with a corresponding increase in the total number of authorized shares of capital stock of the Company from 50,000,000 shares to 200,000,000 shares, in order to be able to issue the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

Warrant Exercise Proposal

Our Common Stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol "TOON," and we are subject to the NYSE American listing standards. Section 713(A) of the NYSE American Company Guide requires stockholder approval prior to the sale, issuance or potential issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) in a transaction other than a public offering at a price less than the greater of book or market value of the stock which either alone or together with sales by officers, directors or principal stockholders of the company equals 19.99% or more of the of presently outstanding stock.

Prior to closing of the Exercise, we had 32,755,748 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Following the repricing of the 2021 Warrants, certain 2021 Warrants were exercised for an aggregate of 2,311,550 shares, resulting in 35,067,298 outstanding shares. Therefore, the issuance of 4,784,909 shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants would have constituted in excess of 19.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (determined as of the date of, and without regard for, the issuance of the Warrants and the shares issued upon exercise of the repriced 2021 Warrants). As a result, the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants requires stockholder approval under NYSE American Company Guide Section 713(A).

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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.” In June 2023, we changed our name to Kartoon Studios, Inc. from Genius Brands International, Inc. along with our trading symbol “GNUS” to “TOON.”

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Risk Factors

An investment in our securities involves a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including those in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein, in evaluating an investment in the securities. If any of these risks were actually to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations and financial condition. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This prospectus (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 prospectus. Additionally, statements concerning future matters are forward-looking statements. These statements include, among other things, statements regarding:

·our ability to generate revenue or achieve profitability;

·our ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all;

·our ability to repay our outstanding accrued convertible notes;

·fluctuations in the results of our operations from period to period;

·general economic and financial conditions;

·our ability to anticipate changes in popular culture, media and movies, fashion and technology;

·competitive pressure from other distributors of content and within the retail market;

·our reliance on and relationships with third-party production and animation studios;

·our ability to market and advertise our products;

·our reliance on third-parties to promote our products;

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·our ability to keep pace with technological advances;

·performance of our information technology and storage systems;

·a disruption or breach of our internal computer systems;

·our ability to retain key personnel;

·the impact of federal, state or local regulations on us or our vendors and licensees;

·our ability to protect and defend against litigation, including intellectual property claims;

·the volatility of our stock price;

·the marketability of our stock;

·our broad discretion to invest or spend the proceeds of our financings in ways with which our stockholders may not agree and may have limited ability to influence; and

·other risks and uncertainties, including those listed in the section on “Risk Factors.”

Although forward-looking statements in this prospectus 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 “Risks Factors” above, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus. 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. You can also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You can obtain additional information about the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

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 prospectus, except as required by law. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout the entirety of this prospectus, which are designed to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

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Use of Proceeds

We cannot assure you that we will receive any proceeds in connection with securities which may be offered pursuant to this prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use any net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus for our operations and for other general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the development, production, and distribution of animated content and associated licensed merchandise, general working capital and possible future acquisitions. We have not determined the amounts we plan to spend on any of the areas listed above or the timing of these expenditures. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds, if any, we receive in connection with securities offered pursuant to this prospectus for any purpose. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we may initially invest the net proceeds in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities or apply them to the reduction of short-term or long-term indebtedness.

Plan of Distribution

General Plan of Distribution

We may offer securities under this prospectus from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities (1) through underwriters or dealers, (2) through agents or (3) directly to one or more purchasers, or through a combination of such methods. We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:

·a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

·market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

·prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

·negotiated prices.

We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus. We may also designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. We will name in a prospectus supplement any underwriter or agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities.

If we utilize a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

If we utilize an underwriter in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter at the time of sale, and we will provide the name of any underwriter in the prospectus supplement which the underwriter will use to make re-sales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we, or the purchasers of the securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the underwriter may compensate those dealers in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.

With respect to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions and block trades, we will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any compensation we pay to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof.

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If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to such contracts shall not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom the contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that:

·the purchase by an institution of the securities covered under that contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which that institution is subject; and

·if the securities are also being sold to underwriters acting as principals for their own account, the underwriters shall have purchased such securities not sold for delayed delivery. The underwriters and other persons acting as our agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of delayed delivery contracts. 

Shares of our common stock sold pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will be authorized for quotation and trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing, if any, on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any securities market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any of the securities.

In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing the applicable security in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if the securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in other transactions with us, or perform other services for us, in the ordinary course of their business.

 

 

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DescriptionRISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of OUR Capital Stock

General

risk. You should carefully review and consider the risk factors in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as any updates thereto contained in subsequent filings with the SEC, and all other information contained in this prospectus and incorporated by reference into the prospectus before purchasing our securities. The following descriptionrisks and uncertainties described therein are not the only ones facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are unaware, or that we currently deem immaterial, also may become important factors that affect us. If any of these risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stockCommon Stock could decline, and preferred stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplementyou may lose some or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, summarizes someall of the terms and provisions of the shares of our common stock and preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus. These summary descriptions of our common stock and preferred stock are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. For the complete terms of our common stock and preferred stock, please refer to our articles of incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, any certificates of designation for our preferred stock that may be authorized from time to time, and our bylaws, as amended from time to time. The Nevada Revised Statutes may also affect the terms of these securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future common stock or preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the specific terms of any series of these securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular offering of our common stock or preferred stock may specify different or additional terms.your investment.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 410,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 400,000,000 are shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 are shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Capital Stock Issued and Outstanding

As of September 3, 2020, we have issued and outstanding:

·219,029,898 shares of common stock; and
·100 shares of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock which are convertible into 476,190 shares of common stock.

Common Stock

The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. In addition, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our Board of Directors out of legally available funds; however, the current policy of our Board of Directors is to retain earnings, if any, for operations and growth. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets that are legally available for distribution. The holders of our common stock will have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, which may be designated solely by action of our board of directors and issued in the future.

Preferred Stock

Our Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further vote or action by our stockholders, to issue from time to time shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Each series of preferred stock will have such number of shares, designations, preferences, voting powers, qualifications and special or relative rights or privileges as shall be determined by our Board of Directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, voting rights, liquidation preferences, conversion rights and preemptive rights.

 

 

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Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

We have designated six thousand (6,000) shares of preferred stock as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of our common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the Base Amount divided by the conversion price. The Base Amount is defined as the sum of (i) the aggregate stated value of the Series A Preferred Stock to be converted and (ii) all unpaid dividends thereon. The stated value of each share of the Series A Preferred Stock is $1,000 and the conversion price is currently $0.21 per share, subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, dividends and recapitalizations.

We are prohibited from effecting a conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock to the extent that as a result of such conversion, the holder would beneficially own more than 9.99% in the aggregate of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, calculated immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock possess no voting rights except as required by law.

Nevada Anti-Takeover Law and Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions

Some features of the Nevada Revised Statutes, which are further described below, may have the effect of deterring third parties from making takeover bids for control of our company or may be used to hinder or delay a takeover bid. This would decrease the chance that our stockholders would realize a premium over market price for their shares of common stock as a result of a takeover bid.

Acquisition of Controlling Interest

The Nevada Revised Statutes contain provisions governing acquisition of a controlling interest of a Nevada corporation. These provisions provide generally that any person or entity that acquires a certain percentage of the outstanding voting shares of a Nevada corporation may be denied voting rights with respect to the acquired shares, unless the holders of a majority of the voting power of the corporation, excluding shares as to which any of such acquiring person or entity, an officer or a director of the corporation, or an employee of the corporation exercises voting rights, elect to restore such voting rights in whole or in part. These provisions apply whenever a person or entity acquires shares that, but for the operation of these provisions, would bring voting power of such person or entity in the election of directors within any of the following three ranges:

·20% or more but less than 33 1/3%;
·33 1/3% or more but less than or equal to 50%; or
·more than 50%.

The stockholders or board of directors of a corporation may elect to exempt the stock of the corporation from these provisions through adoption of a provision to that effect in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws do not exempt our common stock from these provisions.

These provisions are applicable only to a Nevada corporation, which:

·has 200 or more stockholders of record, at least 100 of whom have addresses in Nevada appearing on the stock ledger of the corporation; and
·does business in Nevada directly or through an affiliated corporation.

On November 20, 2013, we amended our bylaws to provide that the provisions of NRS 78.378 and 78.3793 (“Acquisition of a Controlling Interest”) shall not apply to the Company or to any acquisition of a controlling interest in the Company by any existing or future stockholder.

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Combination with Interested Stockholder

The Nevada Revised Statutes contain provisions governing combination of a Nevada corporation that has 200 or more stockholders of record with an interested stockholder. As of January 15, 2020, we had 269 stockholders of record, not including persons or entities that hold our stock in nominee or “street name” through various brokerage firms.

A corporation affected by these provisions may not engage in a combination within two years after the interested stockholder first became an interested stockholder, unless either (i) the combination or transaction by which the interested stockholder first became an interested stockholder is approved by the board of directors before the interested stockholder first became an interested stockholder, or (ii) the combination is approved by the board of directors and by the affirmative vote of the corporation’s stockholders representing at least 60% of the outstanding voting power of the corporation not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder or the interested stockholder’s affiliates. Generally, if approval is not obtained, then after the expiration of the two-year period, the business combination may be consummated with the approval of the board of directors of the combination or transaction by which the interested stockholder first became an interested stockholder before the person became an interested stockholder, or a majority of the voting power held by disinterested stockholders, or if the consideration to be received per share by disinterested stockholders is at least equal to the highest of:

·the highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder within the two years immediately preceding the date of the announcement of the combination or within two years immediately before, or in the transaction in which he, she or it became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher;
·the market value per share on the date of announcement of the combination or the date the person became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher; or
·if higher for the holders of preferred stock, the highest liquidation value of the preferred stock, if any.

Generally, these provisions define an interested stockholder as a person who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of a corporation. Generally, these provisions define combination to include any merger or consolidation with an interested stockholder, or any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, with an interested stockholder of assets of the corporation having:

·an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the assets of the corporation;
·an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation; or
·representing 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation.

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation, the existence of authorized but unissued common stock and undesignated preferred stock may enable our board of directors to make more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of our Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby to protect the continuity of management. If, in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, the board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal was not in our best interest, such shares could be issued by the board of directors without stockholder approval in one or more transactions that might prevent or render more difficult or costly the completion of the takeover transaction by diluting the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder group, by putting a substantial voting block in institutional or other hands that might undertake to support the position of the incumbent board of directors, by effecting an acquisition that might complicate or preclude the takeover, or otherwise.

In addition, our Articles of Incorporation grants our board of directors broad power to establish the rights and preferences of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance also may adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of those holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of our Company.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer LLC, 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, NY 11598.

Nasdaq Capital Market Listing

Our common stock is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GNUS.”

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Description of Debt Securities

The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in a prospectus supplement, the terms of any debt securities offered under such prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, and to the extent the terms set forth in a prospectus supplement differ from the terms described below, the terms set forth in the prospectus supplement shall control.

We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings under this prospectus, debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated. We will issue any such senior debt securities under a senior indenture that we will enter into with a trustee to be named in the senior indenture. We will issue any such subordinated debt securities under a subordinated indenture, which we will enter into with a trustee to be named in the subordinated indenture. We use the term “indentures” to refer to either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture, as applicable. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect on the date of the indenture. We use the term “debenture trustee” to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable.

The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities.

General

Each indenture will provide that debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in foreign currencies or units based on or relating to foreign currencies. Neither indenture will limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder, and each indenture will provide that the specific terms of any series of debt securities shall be set forth in, or determined pursuant to, an authorizing resolution and/or a supplemental indenture, if any, relating to such series.

We will describe in each prospectus supplement the following terms relating to a series of debt securities:

·the title or designation;
·the aggregate principal amount and any limit on the amount that may be issued;
·the currency or units based on or relating to currencies in which debt securities of such series are denominated and the currency or units in which principal or interest or both will or may be payable;
·whether we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, the terms of any global securities and who the depositary will be;
·the maturity date and the date or dates on which principal will be payable;
·the interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the date or dates interest will be payable and the record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
·whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
·the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;
·the place or places where payments will be payable;
·our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
·the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional redemption provisions;
·the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities;
·whether the indenture will restrict our ability to pay dividends, or will require us to maintain any asset ratios or reserves;
·whether we will be restricted from incurring any additional indebtedness;
·a discussion on any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to a series of debt securities;
·the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; and
·any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities.

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We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee

The debenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under the applicable indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the debenture trustee under such indenture must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the debenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.

We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check which we will mail to the holder or by wire. Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee in the City of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All money we pay to a paying agent or the debenture trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

Our obligations pursuant to any subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of senior indebtedness we may incur. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.

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Description of Warrants

General

We may issue warrants to our stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock. We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more debt securities, common stock, or rights, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the warrant to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the warrant, warrant agreement or warrant certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable warrant agreement and warrant certificate for additional information before you decide whether to purchase any of our rights.

We will provide in a prospectus supplement the following terms of the warrants being issued:

·the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants;
·the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
·the designation, amount and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
·if applicable, the exercise price for shares of our common stock and the number of shares of common stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants;
·if applicable, the exercise price for shares of our preferred stock, the number of shares of preferred stock to be received upon exercise, and a description of that series of our preferred stock;
·if applicable, the exercise price for our debt securities, the amount of debt securities to be received upon exercise, and a description of that series of debt securities;
·the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants;
·whether the warrants will be issued in fully registered form or bearer form, in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit;
·any applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences;
·the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents;
·the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange;
·if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and the common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities will be separately transferable;
·if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
·information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
·the anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
·any redemption or call provisions;
·whether the warrants may be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; and
·any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. 

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Each warrant will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock or other securities at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Holders may exercise warrants as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock or other securities, as applicable, purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the warrants issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Warrant Agent

The warrant agent for any warrants we offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 137 

 

 

Description of Rights

USE OF PROCEEDS

General

We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchaseare not selling any securities in this offering and we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock orCommon Stock by the other securities described in this prospectus. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, debt securities, common stock, or warrants, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rightsselling stockholders. The selling stockholders will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rightsreceive all of the series of certificates and will not assumeproceeds from any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisionssales of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agreement or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable rights agreement and rights certificate for additional information before you decide whether to purchase anyshares of our rights.Common Stock offered hereby.

 

We will provide inreceive the exercise price upon any exercise of the Warrants, to the extent exercised on a prospectus supplementcash basis. Per the following terms of the rights being issued:

·the dateWarrants, if, at the time of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution;
·the aggregate number of shares of common stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant, there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the resale of the rights;
·the exercise price;
·the aggregate number of rights issued;
·whether the rights are transferrable and the date, if any, on and after which the rights may be separately transferred;
·the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence, and the date on which the right to exercise the rights will expire;
·the method by which holders of rights will be entitled to exercise;
·the conditions to the completion of the offering, if any;
·the withdrawal, termination and cancellation rights, if any;
·whether there are any backstop or standby purchaser or purchasers and the terms of their commitment, if any;
·whether stockholders are entitled to oversubscription rights, if any;
·any applicable U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
·any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights, as applicable.

Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock or other securities atCommon Stock underlying the exercise price provided inWarrant, then the applicable prospectus supplement. RightsWarrant may also be exercised, atin whole or in part, by means of a “cashless exercise”. We currently intend to use such proceeds, if any, time upfor general corporate and working capital purposes. The holders of the Warrants are not obligated to exercise the closeWarrants, and we cannot predict whether or when, if ever, the holders of business on the expiration date forWarrants will choose to exercise the rights providedWarrants, in the applicable prospectus supplement.whole or in part.

 

Holders may exercise rights as described inThe selling stockholders will pay any expenses incurred by the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agentselling stockholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other office indicatedreasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in selling the prospectus supplement, weCommon Stock covered by this prospectus. We will as soon as practicable, forwardbear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares of common stock or other securities, as applicable, purchasable upon exerciseCommon Stock covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees and expenses of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.our counsel and our accountants.

 

Rights Agent

 

The rights agent for any rights we offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 148 

 

DescriptionSELLING STOCKHOLDERS

We are registering the resale from time to time by the selling stockholders set forth below of Units

The following description, together withup to 4,784,909 shares of our Common Stock issuable to the additional information that we include in any applicable prospectus supplements summarizes the material terms and provisionsselling stockholders upon exercise of the units that weWarrants currently held by the respective selling stockholders. We may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generallyalso from time to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detailtime in the applicable prospectus supplement. The termsfuture register the resale of our Common Stock by additional selling stockholders. Information about any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreementsadditional selling stockholders, where applicable, to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of units that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses and the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.

General

We may issue units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, one or more debt securities, warrants, or rights, in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each security included in the unit. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units being offered, including:

·the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
·any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and
·any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.

The provisions described in this section, as well as those set forth in any prospectus supplement or as described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants,” and “Description of Rights” will apply to each unit, as applicable, and to any common stock, debt security, warrant, or right included in each unit, as applicable.

Unit Agent

The name and address of the unit agent for any units we offer will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment or in filings we make with the applicable prospectus supplement.SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference.

 

IssuanceThe following table sets forth information with respect to the current beneficial ownership of the selling stockholders and the number of shares of Common Stock being offered by each selling stockholder hereby upon exercise of the Warrants. We do not know if, when or in Serieswhat amounts the selling stockholders may offer their shares for sale. The selling stockholders may sell some, all or none of the shares held by them. The selling stockholders reserve the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any proposed sale of any shares of our Common Stock currently held by the selling stockholders. Because the number of shares the selling stockholders may offer and sell is not presently known, we cannot estimate the number of shares that will continue to be held by the selling stockholders. This table, however, presents the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that each selling stockholder may offer pursuant to this prospectus and the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, that each selling stockholder would beneficially own after the sale of such maximum number of shares, assuming no acquisitions of additional shares of Common Stock take place. The number of shares listed do not take into account any limitations on exercise of the Warrants and assumes that the Company will obtain the necessary stockholder approval for the Proposals.

 

We may issue unitsThe number of shares and percentages of beneficial ownership set forth below are based on 35,071,755 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of June 20, 2023. Beneficial ownership is determined under the SEC rules and regulations and generally includes voting or investment power over securities. Except as indicated in such amountsthe footnotes to this table, we believe that each stockholder identified in the table possesses sole voting and in such numerous distinct seriesinvestment power over all shares of equity securities shown as we determine.beneficially owned by the stockholder.

 

EnforceabilityThe information in the table below with respect to each selling stockholder has been obtained from such selling stockholder. When we refer to the "selling stockholders" in this prospectus, we mean the selling stockholders listed in the table below, as well as their respective pledgees, donees, assignees, transferees and successors and others who may hold any of Rights by Holderssuch selling stockholder's interest, as well as any other selling stockholders we may name from time to time as set forth above. The selling stockholders may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of Unitsthe Securities Act.

 

   Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to the Offering (1)   Number of Shares Being Registered   Shares Beneficially Owned after Sale of All Shares Registered Hereby 
Name of Selling Stockholder  Number   Percent   Hereby (2)   Number   Percent 
Anson Investments Master Fund LP (3)  700,024   1.7%   1,400,048   700,024   1.7% 
Anson East Master Fund LP (3)  179,976   *   359,952   179,976   * 
Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd. (4)  65,000   *   130,000   65,000   * 
L1 Capital Global Opportunities Master Fund (5)  30,000   *   60,000   30,000   * 
Brio Capital Master Fund, Ltd. (6)  157,530   *   130,000   157,530   * 
Richard Molinsky (7)  51,500   *   30,000   51,500   * 
Gregory Castaldo (8)  250,000   *   500,000   250,000   * 
Hana Resources (Bahamas) LTD (9)  87,500   *   175,000   87,500   * 
Starword Limited (10)  125,000   *   250,000   125,000   * 
Intracoastal Capital, LLC (11)  150,000   *   300,000   150,000   * 
Kerry Propper (12)  10,000   *   20,000   10,000   * 
Joseph Reda (13)  500,000   1.2%   1,000,000   500,000   1.2% 
Jonathan Schechter (13)  77,778   *   155,556   77,778   * 
Andrew Arno (13)  40,000   *   80,000   40,000   * 
Linda Mackay (13)  15,000   *   20,000   15,000   * 
Timothy Tyler Berry (13)  3,272   *   6,544   3,272   * 
Michael Scrobe (14)  3,000   *   6,000   3,000   * 
Dawson James Securities (15)        161,809       

Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more_________________

*Represents less than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent1% of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.outstanding common stock.

 

 

 

 159 

 

 

Legal Matters(1) All entries exclude beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock, issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, because the Warrants are not exercisable prior to receipt of stockholder approval of the Proposals.

 

Woodburn(2) Assumes the exercise in full of the Warrants held by the selling stockholders, without regard to any limitations on exercise.

(3) Anson Advisors Inc. and Wedge, Reno, Nevada,Anson Funds Management LP, the Co-Investment Advisers of Anson Investments Master Fund LP (“Anson Investments”) and Anson East Master Fund LP (“Anson East”, and collectively with Anson Investments, “Anson”), hold voting and dispositive power over the securities held by Anson. Bruce Winson is the managing member of Anson Management GP LLC, which is the general partner of Anson Funds Management LP. Moez Kassam and Amin Nathoo are directors of Anson Advisors Inc. Mr. Winson, Mr. Kassam and Mr. Nathoo each disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares of common stock except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The selling stockholder’s address is Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands.

(4) Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, the investment manager of Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd., has voting and investment power over these securities. Sander Gerber is the managing member of Hudson Bay Capital GP LLC, which is the general partner of Hudson Bay Capital Management LP. Each of Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd. and Sander Gerber disclaims beneficial ownership over these securities. The address of the principal business office of Hudson Bay Capital Management LP is 777 Third Ave, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

(5) David Feldman is the natural person with voting and dispositive power over the shares held by L1 Capital Global Opportunities Master Fund. The selling stockholder’s address is Level 23, 135 East 57th St, New York, NY 10022.

(6) Shaye Hirsch is the natural person with voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Brio Capital Master Fund Ltd. The selling stockholder’s address is 100 Merrick Road Suite 401W, Rockville Centre, NY 11570.

(7) The selling stockholder’s address is 329 Chestnut Hill Road, Norwalk, CT 06851.

(8) The selling stockholder’s address is 3776 Steven James Drive, Garnet Valley, PA 19060.

(9) The address of this beneficial owner is Winterbotham Place Marlborough And Queens Streets, Nassau, Bahamas. Hana Resources (BAHAMAS), LTD has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares.

(10) Simon Chehebar is the natural person with voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Starword Limited. The selling stockholder’s address is c/o Simon Chehebar, 20155 NE 38 Court Apt. 2004, Aventura, FL 33180.

(11) Mitchell P. Kopin (“Mr. Kopin”) and Keith Goodman (Mr. Goodman), each of whom are managers of Intracoastal Capital LLC (“Intracoastal”), have shared voting control and investment discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by Intracoastal. As a result, each of Mr. Kopin and Mr. Goodman may be deemed to have beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of the securities reported herein that are held by Intracoastal. The address of Intracoastal Capital, LLC is 245 Palm Trail, Delray Beach, FL 33483.

(12) The selling stockholder’s address is 17 State Street Suite 2130, New York, NY 10044.

(13) The selling stockholders are employees of Special Equities Group, LLC, a division of Dawson James Securities, which is a registered broker-dealer that acted as our placement agent in each of our financings during the previous six months.

(14) The selling stockholder’s address is 46 Bartlett Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030.

(15) Dawson James Securities is a broker-dealer that acted as our placement agent for the Exchange. Its address is 1 North Federal Highway, Suite 500, Boca Raton, FL 33432.

10

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We are registering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of our outstanding Warrants to permit the resale of these shares of Common Stock by the selling stockholders after the date of this prospectus. We will passnot receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of Common Stock, except with respect to amounts received by us upon the exercise of the Warrant for cash.

Each selling stockholder may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on NYSE American or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which shares of Common Stock are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A selling stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

·ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
·block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
·purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
·an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
·privately negotiated transactions;
·settlement of short sales;
·in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;
·through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
·a combination of any such methods of sale; or
·any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

The selling stockholders may also sell shares of Common Stock under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

11

In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each selling stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective at all times until each Selling Stockholder no longer owns a Warrant or the Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof. The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the Common Stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the Common Stock by the selling stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

12

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of the securities to be offered by this prospectus. Certain other legal matterswe are offering will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York. AdditionalFlangas Law Group. Certain legal matters maywill be passed upon for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents,reviewed by counsel we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.Reed Smith LLP.

 

ExpertsEXPERTS

The consolidatedBaker Tilly US, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements of Genius Brands International, Inc. as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the yearsincluded in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019 incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Genius Brands International, Inc.our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019  have been audited by Squar Milner LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon2022 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern) have beenopinion), which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectusprospectus and elsewhere in this Registration StatementStatement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon such reports and upon theon Baker Tilly US, LLP’s report, given on their authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

Where You Can Find More InformationINTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

Reed Smith LLP, outside counsel to the Company, beneficially owns 400,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to an executed retainer letter agreement.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are required toa public company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings with the SEC are available to the public at the SEC's websiteSEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov,. We also make available free of charge and on our websiteweb site at www.gnusbrands.com allhttp://www.kartoonstudios.com. Our SEC filings may also be inspected and copied at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-1004. The public may obtain information about the operation of the documents that we file withpublic reference room by calling the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the SEC. Informationat 1-800-SEC-0330. The information contained on our websiteweb site is not included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In addition, our Common Stock is listed for trading on NYSE American under the symbol “TOON.”

 

This prospectus is only part of a registration statementRegistration Statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC relating tounder the securities to be offered. This prospectus does not contain all of theSecurities Act, and therefore omits certain information we have includedcontained in the registration statement and the accompanyingRegistration Statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules in accordance with the rulesRegistration Statement that are excluded from this prospectus, and regulations of the SEC, and weyou should refer you to the omitted information. The statements this prospectus makes pertaining to the contentapplicable exhibit or schedule for a complete description of any statement referring to any contract agreement or other document that is an exhibit to the registration statement necessarily are summaries of their material provisions and do not describe all exceptions and qualifications contained in those contracts, agreements or documents.document. You should read those contracts, agreements or documents for information that may be important to you. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available through the SEC's Internet website.may:

·obtain a copy from the SEC upon payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC, or

·obtain a copy from the SEC’s web site or our web site.

 

Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference

 

13

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to "incorporate“incorporate by reference" thereference” information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we canfile with them. Incorporation by reference allows us to disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to those other documents filed separately with the SEC.documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Informationprospectus, and information that we file later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be "filed" with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus omits certain information previously filed withcontained in the SEC, and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed withregistration statement, as permitted by the SEC. You should refer to the registration statement and any prospectus supplement filed hereafter, including the exhibits, for further information about us and the securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. Statements in this prospectus regarding the provisions of certain documents filed with, or incorporated by reference in, the registration statement are not assumenecessarily complete and each statement is qualified in all respects by that reference. Copies of all or any part of the information contained inregistration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference or the exhibits, may be obtained upon payment of the prescribed rates at the offices of the SEC listed above in this prospectus or any supplement thereto is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates of those documents.

16

We incorporate“Where You Can Find More Information.” The documents we are incorporating by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), from the date of this prospectus until the termination of each offering under this prospectus (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K):are:

 

·our Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as2022 filed on April 13, 2023;

·Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2020 (including the31, 2023 filed on May 22, 2023;

·Our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished rather than filed) filed on, February 10, 2023, March 1, 2023, April 3, 2023, April 14, 2023, May 26, 2023, June 13, 2023, June 27, 2023 and July 3, 2023;

·Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed on July 14, 2023; and

·The description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.13 thereto);

·in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q10-K for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, as filed on May 18, 2020 and for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, as filed on August 14, 2020;

·our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2020, January 23, 2020, March 5, 2020, March 11, 2020, March 20, 2020, March 23, 2020, May 7, 2020, May 8, 2020, May 15, 2020, May 18, 2020, May 28, 2020, May 29, 2020, June 18, 2020, June 23, 2020 , July 27, 2020 and September 2, 2020;

·the information specifically incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K for thefiscal year ended December 31, 2019 from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, as filed on April 14, 2020; andMarch 30, 2020.

·all reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination or completion of the offering of securities under this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such reports and other documents.

In addition, all reports and other documents filed by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus any future filings made by us with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except for information “furnished” under Items 2.02 or 7.01 on Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC which is not deemed filed and not incorporated in this prospectus, until the termination of the offering of securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference. These documents will be provided to you at no cost, by calling us at (310) 373-4222273-4222 or by writing to us at the following address:

 

Genius Brands International,Kartoon Studios, Inc.

190 N. Canon Drive, 4th Floor

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Attn: Robert Denton

 

You should rely only on information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

 

 

 1714 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kartoon Studios, Inc.

4,784,909 Shares of Common Stock

PROSPECTUS

, 2023

 18 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The following table itemizessets forth the Company’s estimates (other than the SEC registration fee) of the expenses incurred by us in connection with the issuance and registrationdistribution of the securities being registered hereunder.registered. 

 

  Amount 
SEC registration fee $12,980 
FINRA filing fee  15,500 
Printing fees  * 
Legal fees and expenses  * 
Accountants’ fees and expenses  * 
Miscellaneous  

*

 
Total $

*

 

________________

*Estimated expenses are not presently known.

All amounts in the table above, except the SEC registration fee and FINRA filing fee, are estimated. These amounts do not include expenses of preparing and printing any accompanying prospectus supplements, listing fees, trustee fees and expenses, transfer agent fees and other expenses related to offerings of particular securities from time to time. Estimated fees and expenses associated with future offerings will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item Amount 
SEC registration fee $1,102.05 
Legal fees and expenses  60,000 
Accounting fees and expenses  15,000 
Printing fees  600 
Miscellaneous fees and expenses  1,000 
Total $77,702.05 
Item 15.Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

At the 2023 Annual Meeting, we are also seeking stockholder approval to change the Company’s state of incorporation from the State of Nevada to the State of Delaware as approved by our board of directors (the “Reincorporation”). If our stockholders approve the Reincorporation, we will accomplish the Reincorporation by converting the corporation as provided in the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “NRS”).

Nevada

If the Reincorporation proposal fails to obtain the requisite vote for approval at the 2023 Annual Meeting, the Reincorporation will not be consummated and the Company will continue to be incorporated in Nevada and be subject to our existing Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

 

The Nevada Revised StatutesNRS provide that:

 

·a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful;

 

·II-1

·a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper; and

II-1 

·to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify him or her against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense.

 

The Nevada Revised StatutesNRS provide that we may make any discretionary indemnification only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances. The determination must be made:

 

·by our stockholders;

·
·by our boardBoard of directorsDirectors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding;

·
·if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion;

·
·if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or

·
·by court order.

 

Our bylawsexisting Bylaws provide that our companyCompany shall indemnify each director or officer and employee of our company, (i)Company, against all the expenses (including attorneys’ fees, court costs and expert witness fees), judgments, decrees and fines actually paid in settlement in connection with any action, suit or proceeding providedfinding damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except for damages for breach of fiduciary duty resulting from (i) acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law, or (ii) the payment of dividends in violation of Section 78.3900 of the NRS as it may from time to time be amended or any successor provision thereto.

Delaware

If the Reincorporation proposal is approved, the Reincorporation will become effective upon the filing of, and at the date and time specified in (as applicable), the articles of conversion filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada and the certificate of conversion and the Delaware certificate of incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, in each case, upon acceptance thereof by the Nevada Secretary of State and the Delaware Secretary of State. If the Reincorporation proposal is approved, it is anticipated that the Boardboard of Directors shall first have determined,directors will cause the Reincorporation to be effected as soon as reasonably practicable. However, the Reincorporation may be delayed by the board of directors or the plan of conversion may be terminated and abandoned by action of the board of directors at any time prior to the effective time of the Reincorporation, whether before or after the approval by the Company’s stockholders, if the board of directors determines for any reason that the consummation of the Reincorporation should be delayed or would be inadvisable or not in the best interests of the Company and its sole judgment,stockholders, as the case may be.

II-2

Subsection (a) of Section 145 of DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or who is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or shethe person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the company. Our bylaws also provide that our company may,corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful.

Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its discretion, payfavor by reason of the fact that the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in defending proceeding civilconnection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in advancesubsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and the indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person's heirs, executors and administrators. Section 145 also empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 145.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a corporation's certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its final disposition,stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided however,that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws upon Reincorporation will provide that the payment of expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance ofCompany shall indemnify its past, present and future directors and officers to the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertakingfullest extent permitted by the director or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under the bylaws.

DGCL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II-2II-3 

 

 

Item 16.Index to Exhibits.

Item 16. Exhibits

 

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this registration statement on Form S-3:(a) Exhibits.

 

Number

Exhibit
No.

Description

1.1**3.1Form

Articles of Underwriting Agreement

2.1Agreement and PlanIncorporation of Reorganization between Genius Brands International, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021)

3.2Certificate of Change to the Articles of Incorporation of Genius Brands International, Inc., filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on February 9, 2023 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 10, 2023)
3.3

Articles of Merger of Kartoon Studios, Inc. into the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 27, 2023)

3.4Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the 0% Series A Squared Entertainment LLC, A Squared Holdings LLC and A2E Acquisition LLC datedConvertible Preferred Stock, filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada on November 15, 201321, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 20, 2013)21, 2019)
4.1
3.5FormCertificate of Placement Agent WarrantDesignation of Series B Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 19, 2014)April 12, 2022)
4.2
3.6*

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Kartoon Studios, Inc.

3.7

Form of Certificate of Incorporation of Kartoon Studios, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement of Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on July 14, 2023)

3.8Form of Bylaws of Kartoon Studios, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement of Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on July 14, 2023)
4.1Form of New Warrant (November 2015) (Incorporated(incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 4, 2015)June 27, 2023)
4.3
5.1*Opinion of Flangas Law Group regarding legality of securities being registered
10.1Form of Subordinated IndentureLetter Agreement (Incorporated by reference from Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on November 25, 2016)
4.4Form of Reload Warrant (Incorporated(incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2017)June 27, 2023)
4.5Form of Market Price Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2017)
4.6Form of Investor Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 3, 2017)
4.7Form of Investor Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 8, 2018)
4.8Form of Secured Convertible Note (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 17, 2018)
4.9Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 17, 2018)
4.10Form of Registered Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2019)
4.11Form of Private Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2019)
4.12Form of Waiver Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2019)
4.13Form of Amendment to Secured Convertible Note (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 22, 2019)
4.14Form of Waiver Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 22, 2019)
4.15Form of Amendment to Secured Convertible Note between the Company and each of Anson Investment Master Fund LP, Brio Capital Master Fund Ltd. and Richard Molinsky (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2019)
4.16Form of Amendment to Secured Convertible Note between the Company and each of Jaime Taicher, Michael G. Klein Living Trust and AGC Aviation LLC (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2019)
4.17Form of Amendment to Secured Convertible Note between the Company and K. Tucker Anderson (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2019)
4.18Form of Investor Warrant, dated as of October 28, 2019, by and among Genius Brands International, Inc. and the signatories identified therein (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019)
4.19Form of Reload Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 16, 2019)
4.20Form of Senior Secured Convertible Note issued by the Company (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 11, 2020).
4.21Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 11, 2020).
4.22Form of Placement Agent Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 11, 2020).
4.23**Form of Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation.
4.24**Form of Senior Debt Security.
4.25**Form of Subordinated Debt Security.
4.26Form of Senior Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.23 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-235962)).
4.27Form of Subordinated Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.24 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-235962)).

II-3 

Number

23.1*

Description

4.28**Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate.
4.29**Form of Rights Agreement and Rights Certificate.
4.30**Form of Unit Agreement and Unit.
5.1*Opinion of Woodburn and Wedge
5.2*Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
23.1*Consent of Squar MilnerBaker Tilly US, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the Company
23.2*
23.2*Consent of Woodburn and WedgeFlangas Law Group (included in Exhibit 5.1)5.1)
23.3*Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.(included in Exhibit 5.2)
24.1*Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto)
25.1The Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee to be filed in accordance with section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
  

________________

*107*Filed herewith.
**To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.Filing Fee Table

* Filed herewith.

 

 

 

II-4 

 

 

Item 17.Undertakings.

Item 17. Undertakings

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(1)       to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

(i)       to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii)       to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii)       to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however,, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S–3 (§239.13 of this chapter) or Form F–3 (§239.33 of this chapter) and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) (§230.424(b) of this chapter) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2)       that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(2)that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(3)       to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)       that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A)       each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B)       each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(i)each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) (§230.424(b)(3) of this chapter) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) (§230.424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) of this chapter) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) (§230.415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) of this chapter) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

 

 

II-5 

 

 

(5)       that,
(5)That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities,undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(A)       any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(i)any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§230.424 of this chapter);
(ii)any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii)the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(B)       any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(b)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(C)       the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(D)       any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b)       The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d)       The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that:

(1)       for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4), or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2)       for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(e)       The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

 

 

II-6 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in City of Beverly Hills, State of California, on September 4, 2020.July 25, 2023.

 

 GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.KARTOON STUDIOS, INC.
  
 By:/s/ Andy Heyward
 Name: Andy Heyward
 Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Authorized Officer and Principal Executive Officer)

 

II-7

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Genius Brands International,Kartoon Studios, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Andy Heyward and Robert Denton, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them, and to each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the registration statement on Form S-3 filed herewith, and any and all pre-effective and post-effective amendments to said registration statement, and any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of equity securities of the Company, and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as each of us might or could do in person, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys, and each of them, or their substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

Title

Title

Date

   
/s/ Andy HeywardChairman and Chief Executive OfficerSeptember 4, 2020July 25, 2023
Andy Heyward(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Robert DentonChief Financial OfficerSeptember 4, 2020
Robert Denton(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Joseph “Gray” DavisDirectorSeptember 4, 2020
Joseph “Gray” Davis  
   
/s/ P. Clark HallrenDirectorSeptember 4, 2020
P. Clark Hallren/s/ Robert Denton

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

July 25, 2023
Robert Denton
/s/ Joseph “Gray” DavisDirectorJuly 25, 2023
Joseph “Gray” Davis  
   
/s/ Anthony ThomopoulosDirectorSeptember 4, 2020DirectorJuly 25, 2023
Anthony Thomopoulos  
   
/s/ Margaret LoeschDirectorSeptember 4, 2020DirectorJuly 25, 2023
Margaret Loesch  
   
/s/ Lynne SegallDirectorSeptember 4, 2020
Lynne Segall  
/s/ Lynne SegallDirectorJuly 25, 2023
Lynne Segall  
/s/ Michael KleinDirectorSeptember 4, 2020
Michael Klein  

 

 

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