8-K
Kartoon Studios, Inc. (TOON)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the SecuritiesExchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 13, 2023
GENIUS
BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada<br><br> <br>(State or other jurisdiction<br><br> of incorporation or organization) | 001-37950<br><br> <br>(Commission File Number) | 20-4118216<br><br> <br>(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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190
N. Canon Drive, 4th Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(310)
273-4222
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | GNUS | The Nasdaq Capital Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
ITEM 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
On April 13, 2023, Genius Brands International, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the filing of its Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2022 and provided a business update. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
The information disclosed under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth in such filing.
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTSAND EXHIBITS.
| (d) | Exhibits. |
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The exhibit listed in the following Exhibit Index is filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
| Exhibit No. | Description |
|---|---|
| 99.1 | Press Release of Genius Brands International, Inc., dated April 13, 2023 |
| 104 | The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date: April 14, 2023 | By: | /s/ Andy Heyward |
| Name: Andy Heyward | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit 99.1
GENIUSBRANDS FILES FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
ProvidesBusiness Update CEO Letter
BEVERLYHILLS, Calif.- April 13, 2023: Genius Brands International, Inc. (“Genius Brands”) (NASDAQ: GNUS), a global brand management company that creates and licenses multimedia entertainment content for children, today announced that the Company had filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, Andy Heyward provided a business update for the year ended December 31, 2022, in the form of a CEO letter, which can be accessed HERE.
About GeniusBrands International
Genius Brands International, Inc. (Nasdaq: GNUS) is a leading global kids media company developing, producing, marketing and licensing branded children’s entertainment properties and consumer products for media and retail distribution. The Company’s IP portfolio of family-friendly content features the Stan Lee brand, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Kartoon Channel!; Shaq’s Garage, starring Shaquille O’Neal, coming to Kartoon Channel!; Rainbow Rangers on Kartoon Channel! and Netflix; Llama Llama, starring Jennifer Garner, on Netflix and more. This past year, Genius Brands also acquired Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media (TSX-V: WOW), which includes 2,500 channels under the Channel Frederator Network, and has also made a strategic investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment AG (FRA:RTV), one of Europe’s largest distributors and broadcasters of high-quality programs for children and families.
Genius Networks consists of Kartoon Channel!, Frederator Network and Ameba. Kartoon Channel! is a globally distributed entertainment platform with penetration in a vast majority of the U.S. television market and international expansion with launches in key markets around the world.
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Kartoon Channel! is available across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android Mobile, Web, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and The Roku Channel, Pluto, Comcast, Cox, Dish, Sling TV, Android TV, Tubi, Xumo, Samsung and LG Smart TVs. Frederator Network owns and operates the largest global animation network on YouTube, with channels that boast over 2000 exclusive creators and influencers, garnering on average over a billion views every month. Ameba is a children's video streaming service that is full of active, engaging and intelligent programming.
For additional information, please visit www.gnusbrands.com.
ForwardLooking Statements: Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning ofthe federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe,""expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project,""plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-lookingstatements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any suchforward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statementsare based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, ourability to generate revenue or achieve profitability; our ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all; thepotential issuance of a significant number of shares, which will dilute our equity holders; fluctuations in the results of our operationsfrom 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 relationshipswith third-party production and animation studios; our ability to market and advertise our products; our reliance on third-parties topromote our products; our ability to keep pace with technological advances; our ability to protect our intellectual property and thoseother risk factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-Kand in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Thus, actual results couldbe materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information,future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
MEDIA CONTACT:
pr@gnusbrands.com
INVESTORRELATIONS CONTACT:
ir@gnusbrands.com
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