Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration Statement No. 333-235962

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated January 27, 2020)

 

 

 

Genius Brands International, Inc.

 

4,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

 

We are offering 4,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GNUS.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on March 20, 2020 was $0.3099 per share.

 

You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

 

See “Risk Factors” on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.

 

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

 

As of March 20, 2020, the aggregate market value of our outstanding Common Stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $7,174,165, based on 25,592,229 shares of outstanding Common Stock, of which 23,149,936 shares were held by non-affiliates, and a per share price of $0.3099 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on March 20, 2020. We have offered and sold $3,228,174 worth of our securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

  

 

 

 

 

   
 

 

We have retained The Special Equities Group, LLC, a division of Bradley Woods & Co. LTD, to act as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering. The placement agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to place the securities offered by this prospectus supplement. We have agreed to pay the placement agent the fee set forth in the table below.

 

    Per Share     Total  
Public offering price   $ 0.2568     $ 1,027,200  
Placement agent fees   $             0.0179     $ 71,904  
Proceeds, before expenses, to us   $ 0.2389     $ 955,296  

 

 

Delivery of the shares of our Common Stock being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is expected to be made on or about March 25, 2020.

 

Placement Agent

 

THE SPECIAL EQUITIES GROUP, LLC, A DIVISION OF BRADLEY WOODS & CO. LTD

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is March 23, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

  Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT S-ii
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION S-ii
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE S-iii
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS S-iv
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT S-1
THE OFFERING S-2
RISK FACTORS S-4
USE OF PROCEEDS S-6
DIVIDEND POLICY S-7
DILUTION S-8
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING S-9
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION S-10
LEGAL MATTERS S-12
EXPERTS S-12

 

 

Prospectus

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 2
RISK FACTORS 7
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 7
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 8
USE OF PROCEEDS 8
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 8
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK 10
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES 13
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 15
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS 17
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS 18
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS 19
LEGAL MATTERS 20
EXPERTS 20
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 20
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-i 
 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the offering and other matters relating to us. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more general information about the securities we may offer from time to time, some of which may not apply to this offering of Common Stock. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using the SEC’s shelf registration rules. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the documents incorporated by reference and the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making an investment decision.

 

To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus, on the other hand, the information contained in this prospectus supplement shall control. If any statement in this prospectus supplement conflicts with any statement in a document that has been incorporated herein by reference, then you should consider only the statement in the more recent document. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates.

 

We have not, and the placement agent has not, authorized any person to provide you with any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein. We and the placement agent do not take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may provide you. The information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the document in which incorporated information appears unless otherwise noted in such documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the Common Stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. We are not, and the placement agent is not, making an offer of the Common Stock in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and other periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Our Internet address is www.gnusbrands.com. There we make available free of charge, on or through the investor relations section of our website, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the SEC. The information found on our website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 S-ii 
 

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

We are “incorporating by reference” specific documents that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents that are considered part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, and any documents that we file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this prospectus supplement until the termination of the offering of all of the securities registered pursuant to the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus is a part (excluding any portions of such documents that have been “furnished” but not “filed” for purposes of the Exchange Act):

 

1.       Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 filed on April 1, 2019.
 
2.       Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, filed on May 15, 2019.
 
3.       Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, filed on August 19, 2019.
 
4.        Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, filed on November 14, 2019.
 
5.       Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished rather than filed) filed on January 3, 2019, February 15, 2019, March 7, 2019, March 18, 2019, June 17, 2019, July 22, 2019, September 6, 2019, September 18, 2019, October 3, 2019, October 28, 2019, November 21, 2019, November 27, 2019, December 16, 2019, December 16, 2019, January 16, 2020, January 23, 2020, March 5, 2020, March 11, 2020, March 20, 2020 and March 23, 2020.
 
6.       Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed on May 8, 2019.
 
7.       The description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A filed on November 18, 2016.

 

You may request, and we will provide you with, a copy of these filings, at no cost, by calling us at (310) 273-4222 or by writing to us at the following address:

 

Genius Brands International, Inc.

190 N. Canon, Suite 401

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Attn: Michael Jaffa

 

Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or therein, in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified and superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

Any statement made in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the actual contract, agreement or other document. If we have filed or incorporated by reference any contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified by reference to the actual document.

 

 

 S-iii 
 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and therein, contain 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 supplement. 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 secured 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;

 

  · 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.”

 

 

 

 

 S-iv 
 

 

Although forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement 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” below, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus supplement. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement. We file reports with the SEC and our electronic filings with the SEC (including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to these reports) are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov

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

 

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE RISKS, BUSINESSES ARE OFTEN SUBJECT TO RISKS NOT FORESEEN OR FULLY APPRECIATED BY MANAGEMENT. IN REVIEWING THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, POTENTIAL INVESTORS SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER POSSIBLE RISKS THAT COULD BE IMPORTANT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-v 
 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

Business Overview

 

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

 

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

 

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.”

 

On November 15, 2013, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) with A Squared Entertainment LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“A Squared”), A Squared Holdings LLC, a California limited liability company and the sole member of A Squared (the “Parent Member”), and A2E Acquisition LLC, its newly formed, wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary (“Acquisition Sub”). Upon closing of the transactions contemplated under the Merger Agreement (the “Merger”), which occurred concurrently with entering into the Merger Agreement, the Acquisition Sub merged with and into A Squared, and A Squared, as the surviving entity, became our wholly-owned subsidiary. As a result of the Merger, we acquired the business and operations of A Squared.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 190 N. Canon Drive, Suite 401, Beverly Hills, California 90210. Our telephone number is (310) 273-4222. We maintain an Internet website at www.gnusbrands.com. The information contained on, connected to or that can be accessed via our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

 S-1 
 

  

THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered 4,000,000 shares.
   
Common stock to be outstanding after this offering 29,592,229 shares.
   
Use of proceeds We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $900,000 from this offering after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us.  We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes.  See “Use of Proceeds.”
   
Nasdaq Capital Market symbol GNUS.
   
Risk factors Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement to read about factors you should consider carefully before buying shares of our Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-2 
 

 

The number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding after this offering is based on 25,592,229 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 20, 2020, and also excludes:

 

  · 2,047,619 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 430 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at a conversion price of $0.21;
     
  · 1,289,866 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options to purchase our Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $7.18 per share;
     
  · 877,801 shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under our 2015 Incentive Plan and 2015 Amended Incentive Plan; and
     
  · 76,150,595 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants at a weighted average exercise price of $0.45.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-3 
 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained in, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before purchasing any of our securities. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently deem immaterial, also may become important factors that affect us. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our Common Stock could decline, and you may lose some or all of your investment.

 

RISKS RELATING TO OUR COMMON STOCK AND THIS OFFERING

 

You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of the Common Stock you purchase.

 

Since the price per share of our Common Stock being offered is substantially lower than the net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock, existing shareholders will suffer immediate and substantial decrease in the net tangible book value of the Common Stock. As of September 30, 2019, our net tangible book value was approximately $19 million, or $1.59 per share. Based on the offering price of $0.2568 per share of Common Stock offered hereby, our net tangible book value as of September 30, 2019 is reduced to $1.25 per share which is a $0.34 decrease for existing shareholders.

 

If we sell shares of our Common Stock in future financings, stockholders may experience immediate dilution and, as a result, our stock price may decline.

 

We may from time to time issue additional shares of Common Stock at a discount from the current market price of our Common Stock. As a result, our stockholders would experience immediate dilution upon the purchase of any shares of our Common Stock sold at such discount. In addition, as opportunities present themselves, we may enter into financing or similar arrangements in the future, including the issuance of debt securities, preferred stock or Common Stock. If we issue Common Stock or securities convertible or exercisable into Common Stock, our common stockholders would experience additional dilution and, as a result, our stock price may decline.

 

We will have broad discretion in how we use the net proceeds of this offering. We may not use these proceeds effectively, which could affect our results of operations and cause our stock price to decline.

 

We will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds of this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.” We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital purposes. As a result, investors will be relying upon management’s judgment with only limited information about our specific intentions for the use of the balance of the net proceeds of this offering. We may use the net proceeds for purposes that do not yield a significant return or any return at all for our stockholders. In addition, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

 

An active trading market for our Common Stock may not be sustained.

 

Although our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), the market for our shares has demonstrated varying levels of trading activity. Furthermore, the current level of trading may not be sustained in the future. The lack of an active market for our Common Stock may impair investors’ ability to sell their shares at the time they wish to sell them or at a price that they consider reasonable, may reduce the fair market value of their shares and may impair our ability to raise capital to continue to fund operations by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire additional intellectual property assets by using our shares as consideration. 

 

 

 

 

 S-4 
 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock contains anti-dilution provisions that, if triggered, could cause substantial dilution to our then-existing Common Stock holders which could adversely affect our stock price.

 

Our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock contains anti-dilution provisions to benefit the holders thereof. As a result, if we, in the future, issue Common Stock or grant any rights to purchase our Common Stock or other securities convertible into our Common Stock for a per share price less than the then existing conversion price of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, an adjustment to the then current conversion price would occur. The conversion price of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is currently $0.21 per share. This reduction in the conversion price could result in substantial dilution to our existing common stockholders as well as give rise to a beneficial conversion feature reported on our statement of operations. Either or both of which could adversely affect the price of our Common Stock.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 S-5 
 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $900,000 from this offering, after deducting the placement agent fee and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-6 
 

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock and do not expect to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. We intend to use future earnings, if any, in the operation and expansion of our business. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, based on our financial condition, results of operations, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business properties, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-7 
 

 

DILUTION

 

As of September 30, 2019, our net tangible book value was approximately $19 million, or $1.59 per share of our Common Stock. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets, divided by the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2019.

 

After giving effect to the sale of 4,000,000 shares of our Common Stock in this offering at an offering price of $0.2568 per share, and after deducting estimated offering fees and expenses payable by us, our net tangible book value as of September 30, 2019 would have been approximately $1.25 per share of Common Stock. This represents an immediate decrease in net tangible book value of $0.34 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.99 per share to investors participating in this offering. The following table illustrates this dilution per share of Common Stock to our existing shareholders:

 

Public offering price per share  $.02568 
Net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2019  $1.59 
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors in this offering  $0.99 
Adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the offering  $1.25 
Dilution per share to existing investors in this offering  $0.34 

 

The foregoing illustration does not reflect the potential dilution from the exercise of outstanding options or warrants to purchase shares of our Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-8 
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

 

We are offering shares of our Common Stock. The following description of our Common Stock summarizes the material terms and provisions thereof, including the material terms of the Common Stock we are offering under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

Common Stock

 

See “Description of Our Capital Stock—Common Stock” on page 10 of the accompanying prospectus for a description of the material terms of our Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-9 
 

  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The Special Equities Group, LLC, a division of Bradley Woods & Co. LTD, which we refer to herein as the placement agent, has agreed to act as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering subject to the terms and conditions of the engagement letter, dated September 17, 2019. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling any of the shares of our Common Stock offered by this prospectus supplement, nor is it required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of shares of our Common Stock, but has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of all of the shares of our Common Stock offered hereby. We will enter into a securities purchase agreement directly with investors in connection with this offering and we may not sell the entire amount of shares of our Common Stock offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement. We will make offers only to a limited number of qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors. The placement agent is also acting as placement agent for the Private Placement Transaction. The placement agent may retain sub-agents and selected dealers in connection with this offering.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the placement agent may be required to make in respect thereof.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

We have agreed to pay the placement agent a cash fee of $71,904. The following table shows the per share and total cash placement agent’s fees we will pay to the placement agent in connection with the sale of the shares of our Common Stock offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, assuming the purchase of all of the shares offered hereby.

 

   Per Share   Total 
Public offering price  $0.2568   $1,027,200 
Placement agent fees  $0.0179   $71,904 
Proceeds, before expenses, to us  $0.2389   $955,296 

 

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding the placement agent fees, will be approximately $55,000.

 

We have also agreed to pay the placement agent a fee equal to the compensation in this offering if any investor which the placement agent contacted, or introduced to the Company, in connection with this offering provides us with capital in a public or private offering or financing transaction at any time within the twelve-month period following termination of our engagement of the placement agent.

 

The placement agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by it and any profit realized on the resale of the securities sold by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. As an underwriter, the placement agent would be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of Common Stock by the placement agent acting as principal. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agent:

 

  · may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and

 

  · may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until it has completed its participation in the distribution.

 

 

 

 

 S-10 
 

 

Discretionary Accounts

 

The placement agent does not intend to confirm sales of the securities offered hereby to any accounts over which it has discretionary authority.

 

Listing

 

Our shares of Common Stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol GNUS.

 

Other Relationships

 

The placement agent and its affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. In the 180 days prior to the date of this prospectus supplement, we have paid the placement agent $914,200 in cash and issued 6,898,518 warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, in compensation in connection with various financing transactions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-11 
 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters relating to the issuance of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement will be passed upon for us by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Genius Brands International, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for each of the years then ended, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Genius Brands International, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been audited by Squar Milner LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon, incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement in reliance upon such report and upon authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 S-12 
 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

$50,000,000

 

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

DEBT SECURITIES

WARRANTS

RIGHTS

PURCHASE CONTRACTS

UNITS

 

This prospectus will allow us to issue, from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined at or prior to the time of the offering, up to $50,000,000 of any combination of the 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, rights or performance of purchase contracts; or any combination of these securities upon the performance of purchase contracts.

 

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 or to or through underwriters or dealers. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any underwriters or agents are involved in the sale of our securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters or agents and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts and over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds that we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, under the symbol “GNUS.” On January 15, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.306 per share.

 

As of January 14, 2020, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $6,917,699, which was calculated based on 22,606,859 shares of outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates and on a price per share of $0.306. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell the shelf securities in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates in any 12-month period as long as the aggregate market value of our outstanding voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates is less than $75 million. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we have sold $3,228,174 of securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.

 

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 described on page 4 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.

 

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

 

The date of this prospectus is                                 , 2020.

 

   

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 2
RISK FACTORS 7
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 7
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 8
USE OF PROCEEDS 8
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 8
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK 10
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES 13
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 15
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS 17
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS 18
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS 19
LEGAL MATTERS 20
EXPERTS 20
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 20
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 i 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with 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, rights or purchase contracts to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in units, in one or more offerings, with a total value of up to $50,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We are subject to the provisions of General Instruction I.B.6. 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.

 

You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other person 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. 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 document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or 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.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, “Genius Brands,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Genius Brands International, Inc.

 

 

 

 1 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights some information from this prospectus. It may not contain all the information important to making an investment decision. You should read the following summary together with the more detailed information regarding our Company and the securities being sold in this offering, including “Risk Factors” and other information incorporated by reference herein.

 

Business Overview

 

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

 

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

 

Our Products

 

Original Content

 

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

 

Content in Production

 

Rainbow Rangers Season 2: From Shane Morris, the writer of Frozen, and Rob Minkoff, the director of The Lion King, Rainbow Rangers is an animated series about the adventures of seven magical girls from Kaleidoscopia, a fantastic land on the other side of the rainbow. The Rangers serve as Earth’s guardians and first-responders. When there’s trouble for the people or animals of the Earth, the Rangers ride a rainbow across the sky to save the day. We have partnered with Mattel Inc.’s Fisher Price Toys as the master toy partner for the series, and Viacom’s Nick Jr. has licensed the series for broadcast in the US. Numerous international broadcast agreements have been signed and several more are currently being negotiated in various territories. Viacom has ordered a second season of the series consisting of 26 half-hour episodes that are currently in production, the first of which have been delivered.

 

 

 

 2 

 

 

Llama Llama Season 2: We completed production of fifteen half-hour animated episodes in 2017, which premiered on Netflix in early 2018. Netflix ordered a second season of Llama Llama consisting of ten half-hour animated episodes. Back for Season 2 are Llama Llama’s creators including Oscar-winning director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), showrunner Joe Purdy, art director Ruben Aquino (Frozen) and Emmy-winning producers Jane Startz and Andy Heyward. Based on the NY Times #1 best-selling children’s books of the same name, the animated series centers on young Llama Llama’s first steps in growing up and facing childhood milestones. Each episode is structured around a childhood milestone and a life lesson learned by Llama Llama and his friends, told with a sense of humor, vitality, and understanding.

 

Content in Development

 

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

 

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

 

Already Released Content

 

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

 

Llama Llama: We completed production of fifteen half-hour animated episodes in 2017 which premiered on Netflix in early 2018. Llama Llama’s creators include Oscar-winning director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), director Saul Blinkoff (Doc McStuffins), showrunner Joe Purdy, art director Ruben Aquino (Frozen) and Emmy-winning producers Jane Startz and Andy Heyward. Based on the NY Times #1 best-selling children’s books of the same name, the animated series centers on young Llama Llama’s first steps in growing up and facing childhood milestones. Each episode is structured around a childhood milestone and a life lesson learned by Llama Llama and his friends, told with a sense of humor, vitality, and understanding. The global licensing program was unveiled in June 2016 at the Licensing Expo held in Las Vegas.

 

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

 

 

 

 3 

 

 

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

 

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

 

Licensed Content

 

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

 

Genius Brands Network

 

Seeing a need for a destination devoted to providing “Content with a Purpose,” we launched the Genius Brands Network comprised of the Kid Genius Cartoon Network and Baby Genius TV. The network is distributed across multiple platforms including advertising supported video-on-demand (“AVOD”), subscription video-on-demand (“SVOD”) and over-the-top platforms (“OTT”) providing kids and parents a clear choice in premium entertaining, enriching and engaging programming.

 

The Kid Genius Cartoon Network provides smart TV for kids. Our shows are designed for kids to tweens. Our Kid Genius Cartoon Network exposes kids to new and intriguing subjects that stimulate their senses and imagination on a daily basis. We believe that parents will enjoy watching their kids be entertained with enriching and educational series. Featured series include Dino Squad, Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab, Inspector Gadget and more. The Kid Genius Cartoon Channel Plus was launched in September 2017 on Amazon Prime. Kid Genius Cartoon Channel Plus is a subscription video-on-demand service available for $3.99 per month to the approximately 80 million Amazon Prime members. The channel features a variety of owned and licensed content.

 

Baby Genius TV provides enriching and entertaining content for toddlers through preschoolers. Toddlers to preschoolers learn lessons through music and characters that ignite their imagination. We believe that parents will feel safe knowing that their children are enjoying the educational content of our shows. Series include Baby Genius, DaJammies (Toon Farm), and Gummi Bear & Friends and more.

 

Distribution

 

Content

 

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

 

 

 

 4 

 

 

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

 

Consumer Products

 

A source of our revenue is our licensing and merchandising activities from our underlying intellectual property content. We work directly in licensing properties to a variety of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. We currently have across all brands in excess of 45 licensees and hundreds of licensed products scheduled to enter the market. Products bearing our marks can be found in a wide variety of retail distribution outlets reaching consumers in retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, Barnes & Noble, The Home Depot, Old Navy, Amazon.com and many more. We often negotiate dedicated retail space on a direct basis with retailers that will include branded signage to give our brands prominence and clear communication with the consumer. License agreements that we enter into often include financial guarantees and commitments from the manufacturers guaranteeing a minimum stream of revenue for us. As licensed merchandise is sold at retail, these advances and/or minimum guarantees can earn out at which point we could earn additional revenue.

 

Company Information

 

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

 

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

 

Summary of Risk Factors

 

Our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that you should understand before making an investment decision. As of September 30, 2019, we had an accumulated deficit of $62,175,450. Additional risks are discussed more fully in the section entitled “Risk Factors” following this prospectus summary. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

· We have a history of net losses and our future profitability is uncertain.
   
· We will be required to raise additional funds to finance our operations; we may not be able to do so when necessary, and/or the terms of any financings may not be advantageous to us.
   
·

Raising additional funds may cause significant dilution to our existing stockholders.

   
· If we lose key personnel or are unable to attract and retain necessary talent, we may be unable to continue to grow and develop our business profitably.
   
· Third parties may claim that we infringe their intellectual property, and we could suffer significant litigation or licensing expense as a result.
   
· Trading volume in our stock is low and an active trading market for our common stock may not be available on a consistent basis to provide stockholders with adequate liquidity. Our stock price may be extremely volatile, and our stockholders could lose a significant part of their investment.
   
· Concentration of ownership among our existing officers, directors and principal stockholders may prevent other stockholders from influencing significant corporate decisions and depress our stock price.

 

 

 

 5 

 

 

Offerings under This Prospectus

 

Under this prospectus, we may offer shares of our common stock, preferred stock, various series of debt securities and/or warrants, rights or purchase contracts to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in units, with a total value of up to $50,000,000 from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

 

The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.

 

We may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We, and our agents or underwriters, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we offer securities through agents or underwriters, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

· the names of those agents or underwriters;
· applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them;
· details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and
· the net proceeds to us.

 

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 6 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained in this prospectus and discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as revised or supplemented by subsequent filings, which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks. In these circumstances, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

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;
· 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.”

 

 

 

 7 

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

Any time debt securities are offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a table setting forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis in the applicable prospectus supplement, if required.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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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.

 

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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DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

 

General

 

The following description of our common stock and preferred stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, summarizes some 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.

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 243,333,334 shares of capital stock, of which 233,333,334 are shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 are shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001.

 

Capital Stock Issued and Outstanding

 

As of January 15, 2020, we have issued and outstanding:

 

· 25,049,152 shares of common stock; and
· 430 shares of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock which are convertible into 2,047,619 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. 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, rights or purchase contracts, 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.

 

 

 

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

 

General

 

We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock or the other securities described in this prospectus. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, debt securities, common stock, warrants or purchase contracts, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rights 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 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 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 any of our rights.

 

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

 

· the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution;
· the aggregate number of shares of common stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise 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 at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights 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 rights as described in 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 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 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.

 

Rights Agent

 

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

 

 

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

 

We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and for us to sell to holders, a specific or variable number of our debt securities, shares of common stock, warrants or rights, or securities of an entity unaffiliated with us, or any combination of the above, at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specific or variable number of our debt securities, shares of common stock, warrants, rights or other property, or any combination of the above. The price of the securities or other property subject to the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula described in the purchase contracts. We may issue purchase contracts separately or as a part of units each consisting of a purchase contract and one or more of our other securities described in this prospectus or securities of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing the holder’s obligations under the purchase contract. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to holders or vice versa and the payments may be unsecured or pre-funded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure the holder’s obligations in a manner specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contracts in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, to the extent applicable, the following:

 

· whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts;
· whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid;
· whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract;
· any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts;
· any applicable U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
· whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form.

 

The preceding description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the purchase contracts to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the purchase contracts to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the purchase contracts so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the purchase contracts described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described above, then the terms described above will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable purchase contract for additional information before you decide whether to purchase any of our purchase contracts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

The following description, together with the additional information that we include in any applicable prospectus supplements summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of 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 agreements 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, rights or purchase contacts for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series, 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,” “Description of Rights” and “Description of Purchase Contracts” will apply to each unit, as applicable, and to any common stock, debt security, warrant, right or purchase contract 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 the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Issuance in Series

 

We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.

 

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units

 

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 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 consent 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.

 

 

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the issuance of the securities to be offered by this prospectus.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Genius Brands International, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the years then ended incorporated by reference herein have been audited by Squar Milner LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon, and have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such report and upon authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and other periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facilities at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of these documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.

 

This prospectus is only part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and therefore omits certain information contained in the registration statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules with the registration statement that are excluded from this prospectus, and you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a complete description of any statement referring to any contract or other document. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules, without charge, at the public reference room or obtain a copy from the SEC upon payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC.

 

Our Internet address is www.gnusbrands.com. There we make available free of charge, on or through the investor relations section of our website, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the SEC. The information found on our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

 

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them. Incorporation by reference allows us to disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus omits certain information contained in the registration 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 necessarily complete and each statement is qualified in all respects by that reference. Copies of all or any part of the registration 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 “Where You Can Find More Information.” The documents we are incorporating by reference are:

 

·our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, as filed on April 1, 2019;

 

·our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, as filed on May 15, 2019, for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, as filed on August 19, 2019 and for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, as filed on November 14, 2019;

 

·our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 3, 2019, February 15, 2019, March 7, 2019, March 18, 2019, June 17, 2019, July 22, 2019, September 6, 2019, September 18, 2019, October 3, 2019, October 28, 2019, November 21, 2019, November 27, 2019, December 16, 2019 and December 16, 2019;

 

·the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on November 18, 2016;

 

·the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on June 16, 2014, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act (File No. 333-196813), as amended on July 16, 2014, and declared effective by the SEC on July 21, 2014, and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for purposes of updating such description; and

 

·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.

 

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) 373-4222 or by writing to us at the following address:

 

Genius Brands International, 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.

 

 

 

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Genius Brands International, Inc.

 

[*] Shares of Common Stock

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

Placement Agent

 

 

THE SPECIAL EQUITIES GROUP, LLC, A DIVISION OF BRADLEY WOODS & CO. LTD 

 

 

March [*], 2020