Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v3.21.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Genius Brands International, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries A Squared Entertainment LLC, Llama Productions LLC, Rainbow Rangers Productions LLC, Superhero Kindergarten LLC, ChizComm Beacon Media LLC, ChizComm Ltd., Stan Lee Universe LLC and Shaq’s Garage Productions LLC. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805 Business Combinations and ASC 810 Consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.

 

Foreign Currency

 

The Company considers the U.S. dollar to be its functional currency for its United States based operations. The Company considers the Canadian dollar to be its functional currency for its Canada based operation. Accordingly, the financial information is translated from the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar for inclusion in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Revenue and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period, and assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Resulting translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net in stockholders’ equity.

 

Foreign exchange transaction gains and losses are included in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with initial maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of June 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $58,372,335 and $100,456,324, respectively.

 

Marketable Debt Securities

 

The Company purchases high quality, investment grade securities from diverse issuers with a weighted average credit rating of AA/Aa2. Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. Currently, the Company classifies its investments in marketable securities as “available-for-sale” and records these investments at fair value. The securities are available to support current operations and, accordingly, the Company classifies the investments as current assets without regard to their contractual maturity.

 

Unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities for which the Company expects to fully recover the amortized cost basis are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, a component of stockholders’ equity. If the Company intends to sell a debt security, or it is more likely than not that it would be required to sell a debt security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis, the entire difference between the security's amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date would be recognized as a loss in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

Accounts receivable are presented on the balance sheets net of estimated uncollectible amounts. The Company assesses its accounts receivable balances on a quarterly basis to determine collectability and records an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts in an amount approximating anticipated losses based on historical experience and future expectations. Individual uncollectible accounts are written off against the allowance when collection of the individual accounts appears doubtful. The Company had an allowance for doubtful accounts of $54,840 as of June 30, 2021 and $43,676 as of December 31, 2020.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation on property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from two to seven years. Maintenance, repairs, and renewals, which neither materially add to the value of the assets nor appreciably prolong their lives, are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses from any dispositions of property and equipment are reflected in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

Right of Use Leased Assets

 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842, Leases, using the modified retrospective transition method applied at the effective date of the standard.

 

The Company determines at contract inception whether the arrangement is a lease based on its ability to control a physically distinct asset and determines the classification of the lease as either operating or finance. For all leases, the Company combines all components of the lease including related nonlease components as a single component. Operating leases are reflected as operating right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company does not have any finance leases.

 

Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to reflect the profile of collateralized borrowing over the expected term of the leases based on the information available at the later of the initial date of adoption, or the lease commencement date.

 

The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made prior to lease commencement date and excludes lease incentives. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when the Company is reasonably certain that it will exercise the option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term in the consolidated statement of operations. Lease incentives are recognized as a reduction to the lease expense on a straight-line basis over the underlying lease term.

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

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

 

Other intangible assets have been acquired, either individually or with a group of other assets, and were initially recognized and measured based on fair value. Annual amortization of these intangible assets is computed based on the straight-line method over the remaining economic life of the asset.

 

Debt and Attached Equity-Linked Instruments

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Film and Television Costs

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company accounts for revenue according to standard FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company has identified the following six material and distinct performance obligations:

 

  · License rights to exploit Functional Intellectual Property (Functional Intellectual Property or “functional IP” is defined as intellectual property that has significant standalone functionality, such as the ability be played or aired. Functional intellectual property derives a substantial portion of its utility from its significant standalone functionality.)

 

  · License rights to exploit Symbolic Intellectual Property (Symbolic Intellectual Property or “symbolic IP” is intellectual property that is not functional as it does not have significant standalone use and substantially all of the utility of symbolic IP is derived from its association with the entity’s past or ongoing activities, including its ordinary business activities, such as the Company’s licensing and merchandising programs associated with its animated content.)

 

  · Options to renew or extend a contract at fixed terms. (While this performance obligation is not significant for the Company’s current contracts, it could become significant in the future.)

 

  · Options on future seasons of content at fixed terms. (While this performance obligation is not significant for the Company’s current contracts, it could become significant in the future.)

 

  · Fixed fee advertising revenue generated from the Genius Brands Network

 

  · Variable fee advertising revenue generated from the Genius Brands Network

   

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

 

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

 

The Company provides media and advertising services to clients. Revenue is recognized in the month that the services are performed.

 

The Company also purchases advertising for clients on linear and across digital and streaming platforms and receives a commission on these purchases. Advertising commissions are recognized as revenue in the month the advertising is displayed.

 

The Company recognizes revenue related to product sales when the Company completes its performance obligation, which is when the goods are transferred to the buyer.

 

Direct Operating Costs

 

Direct operating costs include costs of the Company’s product sales, non-capitalizable film costs, film and television cost amortization expense, and participation expense related to agreements with various animation studios, post-production studios, writers, directors, musicians or other creative talent with which the Company is obligated to share net profits of the properties on which they have rendered services.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

The Company issues stock-based awards to employees and non-employees that are generally in the form of stock options or restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Share-based compensation cost is recorded for all options and awards of non-vested stock based on the grant-date fair value of the award.

 

The fair value of stock options is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires management to make assumptions with respect to the fair value on the grant date. The assumptions are as follows: (i) the expected term assumption of the award is based on the Company’s historical exercise and post-vesting behavior (ii) the expected volatility assumption is based on historical and implied volatilities of the Company’s common stock calculated based on a period of time generally commensurate with the expected term of the award; (iii) the risk-free interest rates are based on the implied yield available on U.S. treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent expected term; (iv) and the expected dividend yields of the Company’s stock are based on history and expectations of future dividends payable. In the case of RSUs the fair value is calculated based on the Company’s underlying common stock on the date of grant.

 

The Company recognizes compensation expense over the requisite service period ratably, using the graded attribution method, which is in-substance, recognizing multiple awards based on the vesting schedule. The Company has elected to account for forfeitures when they occur. The Company issues authorized shares available for issuance under the 2015 and 2020 Plans upon employees’ exercise of their stock options.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings (loss) per common share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, plus the assumed exercise of all dilutive securities using the treasury stock or “as converted” method, as appropriate. During periods of net loss, all common stock equivalents are excluded from the diluted EPS calculation because they are antidilutive.

 

Income Taxes

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using presently enacted tax rates. At each balance sheet date, the Company evaluates the available evidence about future taxable income and other possible sources of realization of deferred tax assets and records a valuation allowance that reduces the deferred tax assets to an amount that represents management’s best estimate of the amount of such deferred tax assets that more likely than not will be realized.

 

Concentration of Risk

 

The Company’s cash is maintained at three financial institutions and from time to time the balances for this account exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC”) insured amount. Balances on interest bearing deposits at banks in the United States are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per account. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had three accounts with an uninsured balance of $56,601,018.

 

The Company’s investment portfolio consists of investment-grade securities diversified among security types, industries and issuers. The investments are held and managed by a financial institution that follows the Company’s investment policy. The Company’s policy limits the amount of credit exposure to any one security issue or issuer and the Company believes no significant concentration of credit risk exists with respect to these investments.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2021, the Company had one customer whose total revenue exceeded 10% of the total consolidated revenue. That customer accounted for 11% of the total revenue. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had two customers whose accounts receivable exceeded 10% of total consolidated accounts receivable. Those customers accounted for 62% of accounts receivable. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company had one customer whose total revenue exceeded 10% of the total consolidated revenue. That customer accounted for 34% of the total revenue.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2020, the Company had one customer whose total revenue exceeded 10% of the total consolidated revenue. That customer accounted for 46% of the total revenue and 13% of accounts receivable. One other customer accounted for 56% of accounts receivable. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company had one customer whose total revenue exceeded 10% of the total consolidated revenue. That customer accounted for 29% of the total revenue and 13% of accounts receivable. One other customer accounted for 56% of accounts receivable.

 

Fair value of financial instruments

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. FASB ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). These tiers include:

 

· Level 1 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;
· Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and
· Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

 

The carrying amounts of cash, receivables, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of the instruments. The carrying amount of the Production Loan Facility approximates fair value since the debt carries a variable interest rate that is tied to either the current Prime or LIBOR rates plus an applicable spread.

 

The fair values of the available-for-sale securities are generally based on quoted market prices, where available. These fair values are obtained primarily from third-party pricing services, which generally use Level I or Level II inputs for the determination of fair value to facilitate fair value measurements and disclosures. Level II securities primarily include corporate securities, securities from states, municipalities and political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities, United States Government securities, foreign government securities, and certain other asset-backed securities. For securities not actively traded, the pricing services may use quoted market prices of comparable instruments or a variety of valuation techniques, incorporating inputs that are currently observable in the markets for similar securities.

 

The following table summarizes the marketable securities measured at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy as of June 30, 2021: 

                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Total Fair Value  
Marketable investments:                        
Corporate Bonds   $     $ 45,254,451     $ 45,254,451  
U.S. Treasury     5,964,342             5,964,342  
U.S. agency and government sponsored securities           5,294,277       5,294,277  
U.S. states and municipalities           11,150,277       11,150,277  
Asset-Backed           12,729,147       12,729,147  
Total   $ 5,964,342     $ 74,428,151     $ 80,392,494  

 

Fair values were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio. The Company’s marketable securities are considered to be available-for-sale investments as defined under ASC 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities. There were no impairment charges recorded for the marketable securities. Refer to Note 4 for additional details. The fair values of the derivative warrants attached to the 2020 Convertible Notes were determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton model (Level 2) with standard valuation inputs. Refer to Note 18 for additional details. The fair value of the contingent earn-out liability was valued using Level 3 inputs. Refer to Note 3 for additional details.

 

The Company did not have any financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

 

Business Combinations

 

The Company allocates the fair value of the purchase consideration of a business acquisition to the tangible assets, liabilities, and intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. The valuation of acquired assets and assumed liabilities requires significant judgment and estimates, especially with respect to intangible assets. The valuation of intangible assets requires that the Company use valuation techniques such as the income approach. The income approach includes the use of a discounted cash flow model, which includes discounted cash flow scenarios and requires significant estimates such as future expected revenue, expenses, capital expenditures and other costs, and discount rates. The Company estimates the fair value based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. Estimates associated with the accounting for acquisitions may change as additional information becomes available regarding the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Acquisition-related expenses and any related restructuring costs are recognized separately from the business combination and are expensed as incurred.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326). ASU 2016-13 replaces the “incurred loss” credit losses framework with a new accounting standard that requires management's measurement of the allowance for credit losses to be based on a broader range of reasonable and supportable information for lifetime credit loss estimates. The new model, referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model, will apply to: (1) financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost, and (2) certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. This includes, but is not limited to, loans, leases, held-to-maturity securities, loan commitments, and financial guarantees. The CECL model does not apply to available-for-sale (“AFS”) debt securities. For AFS debt securities with unrealized losses, entities will measure credit losses in a manner similar to what they do today, except that the losses will be recognized as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. The ASU also simplifies the accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans. ASU No. 2016-13 also expands the disclosure requirements regarding an entity’s assumptions, models, and methods for estimating the allowance for loan and lease losses. On October 16, 2019, the FASB approved a proposal to change the effective date of ASU No. 2016-13 for smaller reporting companies, such as the Company, delaying the effective date to fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal periods. Early adoption is permitted for interim and annual reporting periods. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The update simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by removing certain separation models in Subtopic 470-20, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options, for convertible instruments. As part of the amendment, the embedded conversion features are no longer separated from the host contract for convertible instruments with conversion features that are not required to be accounted for as derivatives under Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or that do not result in substantial premiums accounted for as paid-in capital. The FASB has eliminated the cash conversion and beneficial conversion feature models. The FASB has also modified accounting rules relating to application of the scope exception from derivative accounting. The amendments revise the guidance in ASC 815-40-25-10, to remove three out of seven conditions from the settlement guidance, referred to as additional equity classification requirements. Following the above amendments, more convertible debt instruments will be accounted for as a single liability measured at its amortized cost and more convertible preferred stock will be accounted for as a single equity instrument measured at its historical cost, as long as no features require bifurcation and recognition as derivatives. The amendments are effective for public business entities, excluding smaller reporting companies, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, including smaller reporting companies the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has adopted ASU No. 2020-06 starting January 1, 2021. The impact to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows was not material as the Company does not have any outstanding convertible instruments.

  

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