Item 1. Financial Statements
Item 1. Financial Statements
Kartoon Studios, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except for share data)
As of
March
31, 2025
December
31, 2024
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash
$ 2,263
$ 7,879
Restricted Cash
509
506
Investments in Marketable Securities (amortized cost
of $ 3,283 and $ 2,116 , respectively)
3,226
2,029
Accounts Receivable (net of allowance of $ 204 and $ 239 ,
respectively)
7,562
11,982
Tax Credits Receivable (net of allowance of $ 210 and
$ 187 , respectively)
8,326
10,295
Notes and Accounts Receivable from Related Party
400
–
Other Receivable
1,488
1,367
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
1,354
606
Total Current Assets
25,128
34,664
Noncurrent Assets:
Property and Equipment, net
1,921
2,053
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, net
5,654
5,847
Finance Lease Right-of-Use Assets, net
217
278
Notes and Accounts Receivable from Related Party
–
1,352
Film and Television Costs, net
3,462
2,621
Tax Credits Receivable (net of allowance of $ 433 and
$ 421 , respectively)
2,458
2,384
Investment in Your Family Entertainment AG
13,444
16,429
Intangible Assets, net
19,300
19,722
Other Assets
117
117
Total Assets
$ 71,701
$ 85,467
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable
$ 5,963
$ 11,954
Participations Payable
1,044
1,427
Accrued Expenses
1,738
405
Accrued Salaries and Wages
1,668
1,213
Deferred Revenue
6,147
5,997
Margin Loan
415
900
Production Facilities, net
7,376
9,220
Current Portion of Operating Lease Liabilities
1,071
1,002
Current Portion of Finance Lease Liabilities
204
249
Due to Related Party
8
8
Other Current Liabilities
1,201
1,065
Total Current Liabilities
26,835
33,440
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Deferred Revenue
3,369
3,371
Operating Lease Liabilities, Net Current Portion
5,082
5,359
Finance Lease Liabilities, Net Current Portion
36
54
Deferred Tax Liability, net
1,280
1,301
Warrant Liability
5,030
5,477
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
12
5
Total Liabilities
41,644
49,007
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 19)
–
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred Stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares
issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024
–
–
0% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $ 0.001 par
value, 6,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024
–
–
Series B Preferred Stock, $ 0.001 par value, 0 shares
authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024
–
–
Series C Preferred Stock, $ 0.001 par value, 50,000
shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024
–
–
Common Stock, $ 0.001 par value, 190,000,000
and 190,000,000 shares authorized, 47,861,379 and 46,285,078 shares issued and 47,785,248 and 46,209,081 outstanding as of March 31,
2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively
48
45
Additional Paid-in Capital
778,055
777,930
Treasury Stock at Cost, 76,131 and
75,997 shares of common stock as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively
( 340 )
( 340 )
Accumulated Deficit
( 745,812 )
( 739,285 )
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss
( 3,318 )
( 3,379 )
Total Kartoon Studios, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
28,633
34,971
Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated
Subsidiaries
1,424
1,489
Total Stockholders' Equity
30,057
36,460
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’
Equity
$ 71,701
$ 85,467
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
Kartoon Studios, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except for share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Revenues:
Production Services
$ 6,572
$ 2,763
Content Distribution
1,981
2,329
Licensing and Royalties
84
100
Media Advisory and Advertising Services
867
886
Total Revenues
9,504
6,078
Operating Expenses:
Marketing and Sales
186
444
Direct Operating Costs
6,684
4,325
General and Administrative
5,713
7,603
Total Operating Expenses
12,583
12,372
Loss from Operations
( 3,079 )
( 6,294 )
Interest Expense
( 128 )
( 203 )
Other Expense, net
( 3,384 )
( 567 )
Loss Before Income Tax Benefit (Expense)
( 6,591 )
( 7,064 )
Income Tax Benefit (Expense)
–
–
Net Loss
( 6,591 )
( 7,064 )
Net Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests
65
19
Net Loss Attributable to Kartoon Studios, Inc.
$ ( 6,526 )
$ ( 7,045 )
Net Loss per Share (Basic)
$ ( 0.14 )
$ ( 0.20 )
Net Loss per Share (Diluted)
$ ( 0.14 )
$ ( 0.20 )
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Basic)
46,693,016
35,297,746
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Diluted)
46,693,016
35,297,746
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
Kartoon Studios, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive
Loss
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Net Loss
$ ( 6,591 )
$ ( 7,064 )
Change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Change in Unrealized Gain on Marketable Securities
34
20
Realized (Gain) Loss on Marketable Securities Reclassified from AOCI into Earnings
( 4 )
141
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
31
( 184 )
Total Change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
61
( 23 )
Total Comprehensive Net Loss
$ ( 6,530 )
$ ( 7,087 )
Net Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests
65
19
Total Comprehensive Net Loss Attributable to Kartoon Studios, Inc.
$ ( 6,465 )
$ ( 7,068 )
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
Kartoon Studios, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders'
Equity
(in thousands, except for share data)
(Unaudited)
Common
Stock
Preferred
Stock
Additional Paid-In
Treasury
Stock
Accumulated
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Non-Controlling
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Shares
Amount
Deficit
Loss
Interest
Total
December 31, 2024
46,209,081
$ 46
–
$ –
$ 777,930
75,997
$ ( 340 )
$ ( 739,286 )
$ ( 3,379 )
$ 1,489
$ 36,460
Issuance of Common Stock for Services
14,990
–
–
–
3
–
–
–
–
–
3
Issuance of Common Stock for Vested
Restricted Stock Units, Net of Shares Withheld for Taxes
99,177
1
–
–
27
134
–
–
–
–
28
Share Based Compensation
–
–
–
–
87
–
–
–
–
–
87
Stock Options Granted to Consultants
–
–
–
–
8
–
–
–
–
–
8
Warrant Exercise
1,462,000
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
1
Realized Loss Reclassified from AOCI
to Earnings, net change in Unrealized Loss
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
30
–
30
Currency Translation Adjustment
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
31
–
31
Net Loss
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
( 6,526 )
–
( 65 )
( 6,591 )
Balance, March 31, 2025
47,785,248
$ 48
–
$ –
$ 778,055
76,131
$ ( 340 )
$ ( 745,812 )
$ ( 3,318 )
$ 1,424
$ 30,057
December 31, 2023
35,247,744
$ 352
1
$ –
$ 773,986
75,473
$ ( 339 )
$ ( 718,546 )
$ ( 3,883 )
$ 1,691
$ 53,261
Issuance of Common Stock for Services
53,497
–
–
–
74
–
–
–
–
–
74
Issuance of Common Stock for Vested
Restricted Stock Units, Net of Shares Withheld for Taxes
49,949
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Share-Based Compensation
–
–
–
–
226
–
–
–
–
–
226
Realized Loss Reclassified from AOCI
to Earnings, net change in Unrealized Loss
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
161
–
161
Currency Translation Adjustment
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
( 184 )
–
( 184 )
Net Loss
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
( 7,045 )
–
( 19 )
( 7,064 )
Balance, March 31, 2024
35,351,190
$ 352
1
$ –
$ 774,286
75,473
$ ( 339 )
$ ( 725,591 )
$ ( 3,906 )
$ 1,672
$ 46,474
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
Kartoon Studios, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three
Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Loss
$ ( 6,591 )
$ ( 7,064 )
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating
Activities:
Amortization of Film and Television Costs
54
62
Depreciation and Amortization of Property, Equipment
and Intangible Assets
650
610
Amortization of Right-of-Use Asset
281
561
Amortization of Premium on Marketable Securities
4
26
Share-Based Compensation Expense
87
226
Loss on Settlement of Related Party Note
944
–
Loss on Revaluation of Equity Investments in Your
Family Entertainment AG
3,640
–
Unrealized (Gain) Loss on Foreign Currency of Equity
Investments in Your Family Entertainment AG
( 654 )
413
Gain on Warrant Revaluation
( 446 )
( 37 )
Realized (Gain) Loss on Marketable Securities
( 4 )
141
Stock Issued for Services
30
74
Stock Options Issued for Services
8
–
Credit Loss (Recovery) Expense
( 2 )
65
Other Non-Cash Items
–
5
Decrease (Increase) in Operating Assets:
Accounts Receivable
4,466
4,620
Other Receivable
( 121 )
( 436 )
Tax Credits Earned (less capitalized)
( 2,724 )
( 1,970 )
Tax Credits Received, net
4,936
10,251
Film and Television Costs, net
( 1,161 )
( 162 )
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
( 750 )
( 849 )
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Liabilities:
Accounts Payable
( 5,990 )
( 4,860 )
Accrued Salaries and Wages
451
219
Accrued Expenses
1,333
1,121
Accrued Production Costs
257
366
Participations Payable
( 385 )
( 224 )
Deferred Revenue
119
652
Lease Liability
( 234 )
41
Due to Related Party
–
( 1 )
Other Liabilities
( 20 )
( 5 )
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
$ ( 1,822 )
$ 3,845
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Repayments from Related Party for Notes Receivable
–
32
Proceeds from Sales and Maturities of Marketable
Securities
605
2,562
Investment in Marketable Securities
( 1,771 )
–
Purchase of Property and Equipment
( 20 )
( 34 )
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
$ ( 1,186 )
$ 2,560
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from Margin Loan
2,700
3,081
Repayments of Margin Loan
( 3,184 )
( 923 )
Proceeds from Production Facilities
2,485
2,828
Repayment of Production Facilities
( 4,474 )
( 9,654 )
Repayments of Bank Indebtedness, net
–
( 2,841 )
Principal Payments on Finance Lease Obligations
( 70 )
( 362 )
Debt Issuance Costs
( 25 )
( 20 )
Proceeds from Warrant Exercise
1
–
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
$ ( 2,567 )
$ ( 7,891 )
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
( 38 )
154
Net Decrease in Cash and Restricted Cash
( 5,613 )
( 1,332 )
Beginning Cash and Restricted Cash
8,385
4,095
Ending Cash and Restricted Cash
$ 2,772
$ 2,763
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Cash Paid for Interest
$ 59
$ 252
Cash Paid for Taxes
$ –
$ 19
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
Kartoon Studios, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2025
Note 1: Organization and Business
Organization and Nature of Business
Kartoon Studios, Inc. (formerly
known as Genius Brands International, Inc.) (the “Company” or “we,” “us” or “our”) is
a global content and brand management company that creates, produces, licenses, and broadcasts educational, multimedia animated content
for children. Led by experienced industry personnel, the Company distributes its content primarily on streaming platforms and television,
and license properties for a broad range of consumer products based on the Company’s characters. The Company is a “work for
hire” producer for many of the streaming outlets and animated content intellectual property (“IP”) holders. In the children’s
media sector, the Company’s portfolio features “content with a purpose” for toddlers to tweens, providing enrichment
as well as entertainment. With the exception of selected WOW Unlimited Media Inc. (“Wow”) titles, the Company’s programs,
along with licensed programs, are being broadcast in the United States on the Company’s wholly-owned advertisement supported video
on demand (“AVOD”) service, its free ad supported TV (“FAST”) channels and
subscription video on demand (“SVOD”) outlets, Kartoon Channel! and Ameba
TV, as well as linear streaming platforms . These streaming platforms include Comcast,
Cox, DISH, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Fire, Roku, Apple TV, Apple iOS, Android TV, Android mobile, Pluto TV, Xumo, Tubi, YouTube,
YouTube Kids, and Samsung and LG smart TVs. The Company's in-house owned and produced animated shows include Stan Lee’s Superhero
Kindergarten starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Llama Llama starring Jennifer Garner, Rainbow Rangers, KC! Pop Quiz, and
Shaq’s Garage starring Shaquille O’Neal. The Company’s 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, Team Zenko Go!, Reboot , Bee & PuppyCat: Lazy in Space and Castlevania .
The Company also licenses
its programs to other services worldwide, in addition to the operation of its own channels, including, but not limited to, Netflix, Paramount+,
Max, Nickelodeon, and satellite, cable, and terrestrial broadcasters around the world.
Through our investments in
Germany’s Your Family Entertainment AG (“YFE”), a publicly traded company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (RTV-Frankfurt),
we have gained access to a leading producer and distributor of high-quality children’s and family programming. YFE owns and operates
one of Europe’s largest channel-independent libraries of around 150 titles and 3,500 half-hour episodes.
Through the ownership of Wow,
the Company established an affiliate relationship with Mainframe Studios, which is one of the largest animation producers in the world.
In addition, Wow owns Frederator Networks Inc. (“Frederator”) and its Channel Frederator Network , the largest animation
focused creator network on YouTube with over 2,500 channels. Frederator also owns Frederator Studios, focused on developing and producing
shorts and series for and with partners. Over the past 20 years, Frederator Studios has partnered with Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Nick
Jr., Netflix, Sony Pictures Animation, and Amazon.
The Company has rights to
certain select valuable IP, through our ownership of a controlling interest in Stan Lee Universe, LLC (“SLU”), an entity we
control and through which we control the name, likeness, signature, and all consumer product and IP rights to Stan Lee (the “Stan
Lee Assets”).
The Company also owns The
Beacon Media Group, LLC (“Beacon Media”) and The Beacon Communications Group, Ltd. (“Beacon Communications”) (collectively,
“Beacon”), a leading North American media and marketing agency, celebrated for its innovative, tailored strategies and unmatched
expertise in reaching kids, parents, and families with precision and impact. Beacon represents over 20 kids and family clients, including
Bandai Namco, Moose Toys, Bazooka Brands, Goliath Games, Playmates Toys, Cepia LLC, and Zebra Pens.
8
In addition, the Company owns
the Canadian company Ameba Inc. (“Ameba”), which operates a premier subscription-based streaming service specializing in younger
children's entertainment. As a cornerstone of our subscription offerings, Ameba delivers a vast library of engaging and educational content,
accessible across multiple platforms. We believe, that Ameba significantly enhances our digital footprint and revenue streams.
The Company's common stock
is listed on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) exchange, under the symbol “TOON”.
Recent Transactions
"Winnie-the-Pooh”
Project Financing
On June 21, 2024, we announced
the launch of Winnie-the-Pooh on the Kartoon Channel through a $ 30 .0 million joint venture (the “JV”) with Catalyst
Venture Partners (“Catalyst”). The binding term sheet governing the project stipulates after Catalyst recoups its investment,
the ownership and profit split between the partners is 35 % to Kartoon Studios and 65 % to Catalyst Venture Partners. In addition, Kartoon
Studios is entitled to receive a 25 % agency fee for licensing and distribution from gross proceeds, which is payable prior to the distribution
of net proceeds. Under the terms, Kartoon Studios maintains operational control and oversees the production process. Winnie-the-Pooh
is based on the designs and stories of one of the most successful and enduring brands of all time, A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh .
Catalyst has agreed to provide the full amount of the production financing with the plan to include an animated holiday movie, 5 holiday
specials and 4 seasons of episodic series.
Liquidity
As of March 31, 2025,
the Company had cash and restricted cash of $ 2.8 million, which decreased by $ 5.6 million as compared to December 31, 2024. The decrease
was primarily due to cash used in financing activities of $ 2.6 million, cash used in operating activities of $ 1.8 million and cash used
in investing activities of $ 1.2 million. The cash used in financing activities was primarily due to repayments of the production facilities
and margin loan, net of proceeds from each, resulting in net cash used of $ 2.5 million, and payments of lease obligations of $ 0.1 million.
The cash used in operating activities was primarily due to net loss of $ 6.6 million partially offset by net change in non-cash adjustments
of $ 4.6 million, and net change in operating asset and liabilities of $ 0.2 million. The cash used in investing activities was
due to purchase of marketable securities of $ 1.8 million.
As of March 31, 2025,
the Company held available-for-sale marketable securities with a fair value of $ 3.2 million. An increase of $ 1.2 million as compared to
December 31, 2024 was due to a purchase transaction during the three months ended March 31, 2025. The available-for-sale securities
consist principally of corporate and government debt securities and are also available as a source of liquidity.
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, the Company’s margin loan balance was $ 0.4 million and $ 0.9 million, respectively. During the three
months ended March 31, 2025, the Company borrowed an additional $ 2.7 million from its investment margin account and repaid $ 3.2 million
primarily with cash received from sales and maturities of marketable securities. The borrowed amounts were primarily used for operational
costs. The interest rates for the borrowings fluctuate based on the Fed Funds Upper Target plus 0.60 %. The weighted average interest rates
were 0.32 % and 0.46 %, respectively, on average margin loan balances of $ 0.1 million and $ 1 .0 million as of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, respectively. The Company incurred interest expense on the loan of $ 1,806 and $ 18,632 during the three months
ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The investment margin account borrowings do not mature but are collateralized by the marketable
securities held by the same custodian and the custodian can issue a margin call at any time, effecting a payable on demand loan. Due to
the call option, the margin loan is recorded as a current liability on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Historically, the Company
has incurred net losses. For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company reported net losses of $ 6.6 million and $ 7.1
million, respectively. The Company reported net cash used in operating activities of $ 1.8 million, and cash used in operating activities
of $ 3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had an accumulated
deficit of $ 745.8 million and total stockholders’ equity of $ 30.1 million. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had total current
assets of $ 25.1 million, including cash of $ 2.3 million, restricted cash of $ 0.5 million, and marketable securities of $ 3.2 million,
and total current liabilities of $ 26.8 million. The Company had negative working capital of $ 1.7 million as of March 31, 2025, compared
to working capital of $ 1.2 million as of December 31, 2024. Management has evaluated the significance of these conditions in relation
to the Company’s ability to meet its obligations and noted the Company has sufficient marketable securities and investments to fund
operations for the next 12 months from the issuance date of this 10-Q.
9
Note 2: Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies
The accompanying interim condensed
consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S.
GAAP”) and are consistent in all material respects with those applied in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2025. The preparation
of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs, expenses and other comprehensive income/(loss) that are reported in the condensed
consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current
events, historical experience, actions that the company may undertake in the future and on various other assumptions that are believed
to be reasonable under the circumstances. On a regular basis, the Company evaluates the assumptions, judgments and estimates. Actual results
may differ from these estimates.
The accompanying combined
interim financial statements are unaudited, but in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (which include normal recurring
adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly the interim financial statements. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of
financial results for a full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2024
Annual Report.
The following is provided
to update the Company’s significant accounting policies previously described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2024.
Reclassifications
The Company identified a disclosure
error in the presentation of the Note 6 Property and Equipment, net reported in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
While the balance sheet correctly reflected the net book value of property and equipment, the footnote disclosure overstated by $ 0.7 million
both the gross asset cost and accumulated depreciation as of December 31, 2024. The disclosure error did not impact the total net carrying
amount of property and equipment or the consolidated financial statements as a whole. The comparative balances as of December 31, 2024
in Note 6 have been revised to reflect the correct gross cost and accumulated depreciation amounts.
The outstanding warrant balance
as of December 31, 2024, previously included 100,000 warrants that had been exercised in April 2024. This exercised amount was identified
in the Q1 2025 review and the prior period balance has been corrected accordingly. The correction was not material to the financial statements,
did not result in any adjusting entry, and had no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, the gross amounts of FX forwards in an asset and liability position subject to a master netting arrangement
resulted in a net liability of $ 0.5 million and $ 0.6 million, respectively, recorded within Other Current Liabilities on the condensed
consolidated balance sheets. For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded a realized loss of $ 139,424 and
$ 15,507 , respectively, on FX forward contracts within Production Services Revenue on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for
Credit Loss
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, the Company recorded an allowance for credit loss of $ 0.2 million and $ 0.2 million, respectively.
The following table summarizes
the activity in the allowance for credit losses related to trade accounts receivable as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024
(in thousands):
Schedule of allowance for credit losses trade accounts receivable
Balance, net as of December 31, 2023
$ 189
Charged to costs and expenses
64
Recoveries
( 14 )
Balance, net as of December 31, 2024
$ 239
Recoveries
( 35 )
Balance, net as of March 31, 2025
$ 204
10
Tax Credits Receivable
The Company classifies majority
of its tax credits receivable as current based on their normal operating cycle. As of March 31, 2025, a portion of the Company’s
tax credits receivable is presented as a long-term asset due to uncertainty regarding the timing of obtaining the necessary certifications
required to process the tax credits. Management will continue to monitor the status of the outstanding items and reclassify the receivable
to current when the timing of collection becomes reasonably estimable.
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, $ 10.8 million a nd $ 12.7 million in tax credit receivables related
to Wow’s film and television productions were recorded, net of $ 0.6 million and $ 0.6 million, respectively, recorded as an allowance
for credit loss. As of March 31, 2025, $ 2.5 million in tax credits receivable net of $ 0.4 million allowance for credit loss was presented
as non-current asset. As of December 31, 2024 $ 2.4 million in tax credits receivable net of $ 0.4 million allowance for credit loss
was presented as non-current asset.
Concentration of Risk
The Company maintains its
cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC”) or the
Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“CDIC”) insured amounts. Balances on interest bearing deposits at banks in
the United States are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per account and deposits in banks in Canada are insured by the CDIC up to CAD
100,000. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company had ten and twelve bank deposit accounts with an aggregate
uninsured balance of $ 0.8 million and $ 6.7 million, respectively.
The Company has a managed
account with a financial institution. The managed account maintains its investments in marketable securities of approximately $ 3.2 million
and $ 2 .0 million as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Assets in the managed account are protected by the
Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) up to $500,000 (with a limit of $250,000 for cash). In addition, the financial
institution provides additional “excess of SIPC” coverage which insures up to $1.0 billion. As of March 31, 2025 and
December 31, 2024, the Company did not have account balances held at this financial institution that exceed the insured balances.
The Company’s investment
portfolio, consists of investment-grade securities and, although reduced in size compared to prior years, remains reasonably diversified
among security types, industries and issuers. 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.
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025, the Company had four customers, whose total revenue exceeded 10% of the total condensed consolidated revenue. These
customers accounted for 85.1 % of the total revenue. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company had two customers whose
total revenue exceeded 10% of the total condensed consolidated revenue. These customers accounted for 61.7 % of the total revenue.
As of March 31, 2025,
the Company had three customers whose total accounts receivable exceeded 10% of the total accounts receivable. These customers accounted
for 53.2 % of the total accounts receivable as of March 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had three customers whose
total accounts receivable exceeded 10% of the total accounts receivable. These customers accounted for 53.2 % of the total accounts receivable
as of December 31, 2024.
There is significant financial
risk associated with a dependence upon a small number of customers. The Company periodically assesses the financial strength of these
customers and establishes allowances for any anticipated credit losses.
11
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following table summarizes
the marketable securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of March 31, 2025
(in thousands):
Schedule of marketable securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Level 1
Level 2
Total Fair Value
Investments in Marketable Securities:
Corporate Bonds
$ 540
$ –
$ 540
U.S. Treasury
–
1,181
1,181
U.S. Agency and Government Sponsored Securities
–
1,119
1,119
U.S. States and Municipalities
–
386
386
Total
$ 540
$ 2,686
$ 3,226
The following table summarizes
the marketable securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31,
2024 (in thousands):
Level 1
Level 2
Total Fair Value
Investments in Marketable Securities:
Corporate Bonds
$ 537
$ –
$ 537
U.S. Agency and Government Sponsored Securities
–
1,107
1,107
U.S. States and Municipalities
–
385
385
Total
$ 537
$ 1,492
$ 2,029
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 FASB ASC 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities . An allowance for credit loss was not
recorded for the marketable securities as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Refer to Note 5 for additional details.
New Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet
Adopted
In December 2023, the FASB
issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures , which requires that an entity, on an
annual basis, disclose additional income tax information, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The amendment
in the ASU is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in this ASU are effective
for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of this
ASU will have to the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, which is expected to result in enhanced disclosures.
In March 2024, the FASB issued
ASU 2024-01, Scope Application of Profits Interests and Similar Awards . The ASU is intended to help entities determine whether
profits interest and similar awards are in the scope of ASC 718, Stock Compensation . The ASU solely focuses on scope and does not
address guidance on recognition, classification, attribution, or measurement. For public business entities, it is effective for annual
periods beginning after December 15, 2024 and interim periods within those annual periods. For all other entities, it is effective for
annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements. The amendments
would be applied either retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements or prospectively to profits interest
and similar awards granted or modified on or after the date at which the entity first applies the amendments. The Company is in the process
of evaluating the impact that the adoption of this ASU will have to the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, which
is expected to result in enhanced disclosures.
12
In November, 2024 the FASB
issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income — Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40):
Disaggregation of Income Statement Expense. This update mandates that public companies provide more detailed information about specific
expenses in their financial statement notes. The effective date for this guidance is annual reporting periods beginning after December
15, 2026, with interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process
of evaluating the impact that the adoption of this ASU will have to the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, which
is expected to result in enhanced disclosures.
Note 3: Variable Interest Entity
In July 2020, the Company
entered into a binding term sheet with POW! Entertainment, LLC. (“POW”) in which the Company agreed to form an entity with
POW to exploit certain rights in intellectual property created by Stan Lee, as well as the name and likeness of Stan Lee. The entity is
called “Stan Lee Universe, LLC” (“SLU”). POW and the Company executed an Operating Agreement for the joint venture,
effective as of June 1, 2021. The purpose of the acquisition was to enable the Company to assume the worldwide rights, in perpetuity,
to the name, physical likeness, physical signature, live-action and animated motion picture, television, online, digital, publishing,
comic book, merchandising and licensing rights to Stan Lee and over 100 original Stan Lee creations (the “Stan Lee Assets”),
from which the Company plans to develop and license multiple properties each year.
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, SLU generated an insignificant amount of net loss. There were no contributions or distributions during the
three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and there were no changes in facts and circumstances that would result in a re-evaluation
of the VIE assessment.
Note 4: Investment in Equity Interest
As of March 31, 2025,
the Company owned 6,857,132 shares of YFE. At the time of the initial investment in 2021, it was determined that based on the Company’s
29 % ownership in YFE, the Company had significant influence over the entity. Therefore, under the equity method of accounting, the Company
elected to account for the investment at fair value under the fair value option. Under the fair value option, the investment is remeasured
and recorded at fair value each reporting period, with the change recorded through earnings. As of March 31, 2025, the fair value
of the investment was determined to be $ 13.4 million recorded within noncurrent assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.
The fair value as of March 31, 2025 decreased by net $ 3 .0 million, as compared to December 31, 2024. The net decrease is comprised
of the net impact of a decrease in YFE’s stock price, and the effect of foreign currency remeasurement from EURO to USD. The total
change in fair value is recorded within Other Income (Expense), net on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. As of
March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company’s ownership in YFE was 44.8 %.
Note 5: Marketable Securities
The Company classifies its
marketable debt securities as available-for-sale (“AFS”) and reports them at fair value in accordance with ASC Topic 326,
Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments .
The investments in marketable
securities had an adjusted cost basis of $ 3.3 million and a market value of $ 3.2 million as of March 31, 2025. The balances consisted
of the following securities (in thousands) :
Schedule of marketable securities
Adjusted Cost
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
Fair Value
Corporate Bonds
$ 557
$ ( 17 )
$ 540
U.S. Treasury
1,171
10
1,181
U.S. Agency and Government Sponsored Securities
1,155
( 36 )
1,119
U.S. States and Municipalities
400
( 14 )
386
Total
$ 3,283
$ ( 57 )
$ 3,226
13
The investments in marketable
securities as of December 31, 2024 had an adjusted cost basis of $ 2.1 million and a market value of $ 2 .0 million. The balances consisted
of the following securities (in thousands) :
Adjusted Cost
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
Fair Value
Corporate Bonds
$ 559
$ ( 22 )
$ 537
U.S. Agency and Government Sponsored Securities
1,155
( 48 )
1,107
U.S. States and Municipalities
402
( 17 )
385
Total
$ 2,116
$ ( 87 )
$ 2,029
The Company holds 7 AFS securities,
5 of which were in an unrealized loss position and have been in an unrealized loss position for a period greater than 12 months as of
March 31, 2025. The AFS securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2024 had also been in an unrealized loss position
for a period greater than 12 months. The Company reported the net unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),
a component of stockholders’ equity. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, an allowance for credit loss was no t
recognized as the issuers of the securities had not established a cause for default, various rating agencies had reaffirmed each security's
investment grade status and the Company did not have the intent, nor is it required to sell its securities prior to recovery.
Realized gain of $ 4,454 and
losses of $ 141,174 were recognized in earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, primarily due to selling
securities prior to maturity in Q1 2024 to prevent further market condition losses on the securities.
The contractual maturities
of the Company’s marketable investments as of March 31, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):
Schedule of contractual maturities of marketable investments
Fair Value
Due within 1 year
$ 371
Due after 1 year through 5 years
2,855
Total
$ 3,226
The Company may sell certain
of its marketable debt securities prior to their stated maturities for reasons including, but not limited to, managing liquidity, credit
risk, duration and asset allocation.
Note 6: Property and Equipment, net
The Company has property and
equipment as follows (in thousands):
Schedule of property and equipment, net
As of
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
Furniture and Equipment
$ 117
$ 117
Computer Equipment
822
817
Leasehold Improvements
2,200
2,200
Software
265
250
Property and Equipment, gross
3,404
3,384
Less Accumulated Depreciation
( 1,239 )
( 1,078 )
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
( 244 )
( 253 )
Property and Equipment, net
$ 1,921
$ 2,053
14
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded depreciation expense of $ 0.1 million.
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company did no t incur any impairment charges on its property and equipment.
Note 7: Leased Right-of-Use Assets, net
Leased right-of-use assets
consisted of the following (in thousands):
Schedule of leased right of use assets
As of
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
Operating Lease
Office Lease Assets
$ 9,437
$ 9,437
Accumulated Amortization
( 2,957 )
( 2,740 )
Finance Lease
Equipment Lease Assets
4,214
4,214
Accumulated Amortization
( 3,706 )
( 3,643 )
Right-of-Use Assets, Gross
$ 6,988
$ 7,268
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
( 1,117 )
( 1,143 )
Leased Right-of-Use Assets, net
$ 5,871
$ 6,125
As of March 31, 2025,
the weighted-average lease term for the Company’s operating leases was 70 months and the weighted-average discount rate was 11.1 %.
As of December 31, 2024, the weighted-average lease term for operating leases was 73 months and the weighted-average discount rate
was 11.1 %.
Operating lease costs during
the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were $ 0.4 million and $ 0.4 million, respectively, recorded within General and Administrative
Expenses on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025, the Company recorded finance lease costs of $ 0.1 million primarily comprised of ROU amortization of $ 0.1 million.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded finance lease costs of $ 0.4 million primarily comprised of ROU
amortization. ROU amortization is recorded within General and Administrative Expenses and accretion of interest expense is recorded within
Other Expense, net on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.
15
Note 8: Film and Television Costs, net
The following table highlights
the activity in Film and Television Costs as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 (in thousands):
Schedule of film and television costs activity
Film and Television Costs, net as of December 31, 2023
$ 1,295
Additions to Film and Television Costs
1,653
Disposals
( 75 )
Film Amortization Expense
( 231 )
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
( 21 )
Film and Television Costs, net as of December 31, 2024
$ 2,621
Additions to Film and Television Costs
904
Disposals
( 12 )
Film Amortization Expense
( 54 )
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
3
Film and Television Costs, net as of March 31, 2025
$ 3,462
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded amortization expense of $ 0.1 million and $ 0.1 million, respectively. The Company did no t
write-down or record any significant impairment charges on film costs during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.
Note 9: Intangible Assets, net
Intangible Assets, net
The Company had the following
intangible assets (in thousands) with their weighted average remaining amortization period (in years) :
Intangible Assets, net
Schedule of intangible asset
Weighted Average Remaining Amortization
As of
Period
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
Customer Relationships
5.2
$ 17,325
$ 17,325
Digital Networks
13.0
803
803
Trade Names
66.2
9,970
9,970
Intangible Assets, gross
28,098
28,098
Less Accumulated Amortization
( 6,311 )
( 5,822 )
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
( 2,487 )
( 2,555 )
Intangible Assets, net
$ 19,300
$ 19,722
16
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded intangible asset amortization expense of $ 0.5 million and $ 0.5 million, respectively.
Expected future amortization
of intangible assets subject to amortization as of March 31, 2025 is as follows (in thousands):
Schedule of expected future intangible asset amortization
Fiscal Year:
2025
$ 1,469
2026
1,959
2027
1,959
2028
1,959
2029
1,959
Thereafter
4,703
Total
$ 14,008
As of March 31, 2025, $ 5.3 million of the
Company’s intangible assets related to the acquired trade names from the Wow acquisition had indefinite lives and are not subject
to amortization.
Note 10: Deferred Revenue
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, the Company had aggregate short term and long term deferred revenue of $ 9.5 million and $ 9.4 million, respectively.
The increase in deferred revenue is insignificant and primarily related to productions on various shows nearing completion of the project
as of March 31, 2025, similar to the progress as of December 31, 2024. Wow's deferred revenue balance relates to cash received
from customers for productions in progress. Revenue is fully recognized upon production completion. Deferred revenue also includes both
(i) variable fee contracts with licensees and customers in which the Company collected advances and minimum guarantees against future
royalties and (ii) fixed fee contracts. The Company recognizes revenue related to these contracts when all revenue recognition criteria
have been met.
Note 11: Margin Loan
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, the Company’s margin loan balance was $ 0.4 million and $ 0.9 million, respectively. During the three
months ended March 31, 2025, the Company borrowed an additional $ 2.7 million from its investment margin account and repaid $ 3.2 million
primarily with cash received from sales and maturities of marketable securities. The borrowed amounts were primarily used for operational
costs. The interest rates for the borrowings fluctuate based on the Fed Funds Upper Target plus 0.60 %. The weighted average interest rates
were 0.32 % and 0.46 %, respectively, on average margin loan balances of $ 0.1 million and $ 1 .0 million as of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, respectively. The Company incurred interest expense on the loan of $ 1,806 and $ 18,632 during the three months
ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The investment margin account borrowings do not mature but are collateralized by the marketable
securities held by the same custodian and the custodian can issue a margin call at any time, effecting a payable on demand loan. Due to
the call option, the margin loan is recorded as a current liability on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
17
Note 12: Bank Indebtedness and Production Facilities
The Company has certain credit
facilities that are comprised of the following:
Production Facilities, net
The production facilities
are used for financing specific productions. The Company’s production facilities bear interest at rates ranging from bank prime
plus 1.00 % - 1.25 % per annum. The production facilities are generally repayable on demand. Any borrowings under the production facilities
are collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of the relevant production company’s tangible and intangible assets,
including a combination of federal and provincial tax credits, other government incentives, production service agreements and license
agreements as well as those of certain of our subsidiaries and related entities acting as guarantors of the production facilities.
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, the Company had an outstanding net balance of USD 7.4 million (CAD 10.6 million), including USD 0.6 million
(CAD 0.8 million) of interest, and USD 9.2 million (CAD 13.3 million), including USD 0.8 million (CAD 1.2 million) of interest, respectively,
recorded as Production Facilities, net within current liabilities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, Production Facilities, net includes unamortized debt issuance costs related to the issuance of production
facilities of $ 127,040 and $ 122,973 , respectively, which were included as a reduction to the carrying amount of production facilities.
Equipment Lease Facility
In the fourth quarter of 2022,
the Company entered into an equipment lease agreement with a Canadian bank. This additional equipment lease facility allows the Company
to finance equipment purchases of up to $ 1 .0 million (CAD 1.4 million) in total. Each transaction under the equipment lease facility has
specific financing terms in respect of the leased equipment such as term, finance amount, rate, and payment terms.
As of March 31, 2025,
the Company has two leases remaining under this facility with finance rates of 7.52 % and 8.20 %, and remaining lease terms of 8 months
and 17 months.
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, the outstanding balances, net of repayments, of $ 0.2 million (CAD 0.3 million) and $ 0.3 million (CAD 0.4 million),
respectively, were included within current and noncurrent Finance Lease Liabilities, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Note 13: Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024 the total number of authorized shares of common stock was 190,000,000 .
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, there were 47,785,248 and 46,209,081 shares of common stock outstanding, respectively.
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company issued 14,990
and 53,497 shares of common stock for services, respectively.
18
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company issued 99,177
and 49,949
shares of common stock in connection with vested restricted stock units (RSUs), net of shares withheld for tax obligations, respectively.
On March 5, 2025, the Company
issued 1,462,000 shares of common stock to investor Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. upon the exercise of outstanding pre-funded warrants.
The warrants were exercised at a price of $ 0.001 per share, which represented par value, resulting in total proceeds of $ 1,462 . The issuance
was completed in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreements, and the shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
The Company has 10,000,000
shares of preferred stock authorized with a par value of $ 0.001 per share including 9,944,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock,
6,000 shares designated as 0% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 50,000 shares as Series C Preferred Stock. The 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 the board of directors, which may
include, among others, dividend rights, voting rights, liquidation preferences, conversion rights and preemptive rights.
As of March 31, 2025
and December 31, 2024, there were 0 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31,
2024, there were 0 shares of Series C Preferred Stock outstanding.
Treasury Stock
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025, 134 shares of common stock with a cost of $ 252 were withheld to cover taxes owed by certain employees, all of which
were included as treasury stock outstanding and recorded at cost within Treasury Stock on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Note 14: Stock Options
On August 27, 2020, the
Company’s stockholders approved the adoption of the Kartoon Studios, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the
”2020 Plan”). The
2020 Plan replaced the previously adopted 2015 Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”). The maximum number of shares available
for issuance was initially equal to the sum of (i) 3,000,000 shares of common stock and (ii) the number of shares of common stock
remaining available for issuance under the 2015 Plan, which was then equal to 216,767 shares. On May 23,
2023, the Company’s stockholders approved the adoption of an Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, which provided
for the maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2020 Plan to be increased by 5,000,000
shares. As of March 31, 2025 the maximum number of shares available for issuance was 8,216,767 .
The remaining 12,000
outstanding stock options granted under the 2015 Plan, as of March 31, 2025, remain to be governed under such plan. On May 14,
2025, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2020 Plan. Refer to Note 22 Subsequent Events for additional
details.
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company did no t grant any stock options.
19
The following table summarizes
the Company’s option activity:
Schedule of option activity
Stock Options
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life
Weighted-Average Exercise Price per Share
Outstanding at December 31, 2024
952,140
4.79
$ 12.72
Granted
–
–
–
Exercised
–
–
–
Forfeited/Cancelled
( 5,820 )
–
7.31
Expired
–
–
–
Outstanding at March 31, 2025
946,320
4.57
$ 12.75
Unvested at March 31, 2025
65,000
4.71
$ 2.48
Vested and exercisable at March 31, 2025
881,320
4.56
$ 13.51
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $ 18,213 and $ 69,965 , respectively, in share-based compensation expense related to stock
options included in General and Administrative Expense on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. The unrecognized
share-based compensation expense at March 31, 2025 was $ 20,156 which will be recognized through the second quarter of 2025 assuming
the underlying grants are not cancelled or forfeited. The outstanding shares as of March 31, 2025 had an aggregated intrinsic value
of zero .
Note 15: Restricted Stock Units
Restricted stock units (“RSUs”)
are granted under the Company’s 2020 Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company granted 110,968 and
95,229 fully vested RSUs to the Company’s board members and consultants, with a fair market value of $ 65,375 and $ 131,379 , respectively.
An aggregate of 110,968 shares
of common stock were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2025 as a result of RSUs vested during the current and prior
periods.
The following table summarizes
the Company’s RSU activity:
Schedule of RSU activity
Restricted Stock Units
Weighted-
Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Unvested at December 31, 2024
870,417
$ 13.53
Granted
110,968
0.59
Vested
( 110,968 )
0.59
Forfeited
–
–
Unvested at March 31, 2025
870,417
$ 13.53
During the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $ 0.1 million and $ 0.2 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expense related
to RSU awards included in General and Administrative Expense on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. The
unvested share-based compensation as of March 31, 2025 was $ 17,545 which will be recognized through the fourth quarter of 2026 assuming
the underlying grants are not cancelled or forfeited. The total fair value of shares vested during the three months ended March 31,
2025 was $ 0.1 million.
20
Note 16: Warrants
The following table summarizes
the activity in the Company’s outstanding warrants during the three months ended March 31, 2025:
Schedule of warrant activity
Warrants
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life
Weighted-Average Exercise Price per Share
Outstanding at December 31, 2024
25,734,752
1.16
$ 2.19
Granted
–
–
–
Exercised
( 1,462,000 )
–
0.01
Expired
( 107,286 )
–
3.66
Forfeitures
–
–
–
Outstanding at March 31, 2025
24,165,466
3.09
$ 2.32
Exercisable at March 31, 2025
24,165,466
3.09
$ 2.32
On March 13, 2025, 89,286
derivative warrants classified as a liability as issued with convertible notes in 2020 to purchase shares of the Company’s common
stock expired and were no longer outstanding as of March 31, 2025. In addition, 18,000 warrants previously classified as equity expired
during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
On March 5, 2025, 1,462,000
of the pre-funded warrants were exercised at a price of $ 0.001 per share, which represented par value, resulting in total proceeds of
$ 1,462 . The issuance was completed in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreements, and the shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.
As of March 31, 2025,
7,894,736 Series A derivative warrants and 7,894,736 Series B derivative warrants, which were issued in connection with the public offering
on December 18, 2024 and are classified as liabilities, remained outstanding. These warrants, which are exercisable for shares of the
Company’s common stock, are remeasured at fair value at each reporting period. As of March 31, 2025, the warrants were revalued
at approximately $5.0 million, resulting in a $0.4 million decrease in the liability as compared to December 31, 2024. The change
in value was recorded as a Gain on Revaluation of Warrants within Other Income (Expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations
and within the Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.
The fair value of the outstanding
Series A derivative warrants was determined by using the Black-Scholes Merton option pricing model based on the following assumptions
as of March 31, 2025:
Schedule of assumptions
March 31, 2025
Market Price
$ 0.62
Exercise Price
$ 0.57
Dividend Yield
–%
Volatility
86.55%
Risk-free Interest Rate
4.04%
Expected Life of Warrants
4.72
21
The fair value of the outstanding
Series A derivative warrants was determined by using the BSM option pricing model based on the following assumptions as of December 31,
2024:
December 31, 2024
Market Price
$ 0.59
Exercise Price
$ 0.57
Dividend Yield
–%
Volatility
102%
Risk-free Interest Rate
3.98%
Expected Life of Warrants
5.00
The fair value of the outstanding
Series B derivative warrants was determined by using the Black-Scholes Merton option pricing model based on the following assumptions
as of March 31, 2025:
Schedule of assumptions
March 31, 2025
Market Price
$ 0.62
Exercise Price
$ 0.57
Dividend Yield
–%
Volatility
64.30%
Risk-free Interest Rate
4.04%
Expected Life of Warrants
1.22
The fair value of the outstanding
Series B derivative warrants was determined by using the BSM option pricing model based on the following assumptions as of December 31,
2024:
December 31, 2024
Market Price
$ 0.59
Exercise Price
$ 0.57
Dividend Yield
–%
Volatility
83%
Risk-free Interest Rate
3.98%
Expected Life of Warrants
1.50
22
Note 17: Supplemental Financial Statement Information
Other Expense, net
Components of Other Expense, net, are summarized
as follows (in thousands):
Schedule of other income expense, net
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Interest Expense (a)
$ ( 128 )
$ ( 203 )
Gain on Revaluation of Warrants (b)
$ 446
$ 37
Loss on Revaluation of Equity Investment in YFE (c)
( 3,640 )
–
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities Investments (d)
4
( 141 )
Gain (Loss) on Foreign Exchange (e)
667
( 650 )
Loss on Debt Settlement (f)
( 944 )
–
Interest Income (g)
54
53
Finance Lease Interest Expense (h)
( 4 )
( 30 )
Other (i)
33
164
Other Expense, net
$ ( 3,384 )
$ ( 567 )
(a)
Interest Expense during the three months ended March 31, 2025 primarily consisted of $ 0.1 million of interest incurred on production facilities and bank indebtedness. Interest Expense during the three months ended March 31, 2024 primarily consisted of $ 0.2 million of interest incurred on production facilities and bank indebtedness.
(b)
The Gain on Revaluation of Warrants during the three months ended March 31, 2025 is related to the changes in fair value of the outstanding 7,894,736 Series A and 7,894,736 Series B warrants classified as a liability due to a decrease of expiration period. The Gain on Revaluation of Warrants recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2024 is related to the remeasurement of 89,286 outstanding liability warrants which expired in March 2025.
(c)
As accounted for using the fair value option, the Loss on Revaluation of Equity Investment in YFE of $ 3.6 million recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2025, is a result of the decreases in YFE’s stock price as of the current reporting period when compared to the prior reporting period. This excludes the impact of foreign currency recorded separately.
(d)
The Realized Gain on Marketable Securities Investments of $ 4,454 recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2025 is attributable to the sale of U.S. Treasury securities. The Realized Loss on Marketable Securities Investments of $ 0.1 million recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2024, reflects the loss that was not recovered from the investments due to selling securities and issuers' prepayments of principals on certain mortgage-backed securities.
(e)
The Gain on Foreign Exchange during the three months ended March 31, 2025 primarily related to the revaluation of the YFE investment, resulting in a gain of $ 0.7 million due to the depreciation of U.S. dollar as compared to three months ended March 31, 2024 in which a loss of $ 0.6 million was recognized.
(f)
In April 2025, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with YFE related to the Shareholder Loan Agreement. As the settlement was considered probable and the loss reasonably estimable as of March 31, 2025, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $ 1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
(g)
Interest Income during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 primarily consisted of income from investments in marketable securities, net of premium amortization expense, as well as other transactions, including interest income related to Employee Retention Tax Credit (“ERTC”) receivable and interest income related to the Shareholder Loan. Each of these sources was individually immaterial.
(h)
The Finance Lease Interest Expense represents the interest portion of the finance lease obligations for equipment purchased under an equipment lease line.
(i)
Other Income is primarily related to late fees from select clients on a payment plan.
23
Note 18: Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income
taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes , which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets at currently
enacted tax rates for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.
A valuation allowance is recognized to reduce the net deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
ASC 740 provides guidance
on the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements. ASC 740 requires a company to
determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination based upon the technical merits of
the position. If the more-likely-than-not threshold is met, a company must measure the tax position to determine the amount to recognize
in the consolidated financial statements.
For the three months
ended March 31, 2025, the effective tax rate was 0%. The effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate
primarily due to state income taxes, a foreign tax rate differential, and a change in valuation allowance. For the three months
ended March 31, 2024, the effective tax rate was 0%. The effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily
due to state income taxes, a foreign tax rate differential, and a change in valuation allowance.
During the three months
ended March 31, 2025 the Company did no t
record an income tax expense. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, net deferred liability was $ 1.3 million and $ 1.3 million , respectively.
Kartoon Studios, Inc. and
its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries are subject to U.S. income taxes and file a consolidated tax return in the U.S. The Beacon Communications
Group, Ltd., Ameba Inc. and WOW Unlimited Media Inc. are subject to Canadian income taxes on a stand-alone basis and file separate tax
returns in Canada.
The Company files income tax
returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in the states of California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, as well as Canada.
To the extent allowed by law, the taxing authorities may have the right to examine prior periods where net operating losses were generated
and carried forward to make adjustments up to the amount of the net operating losses. The Company is currently subject to U.S. federal,
state and local and foreign tax examinations by tax authorities. The Company is no longer subject to audits by U.S. federal, state, local
or foreign authorities for years prior to 2020.
Kartoon Studios, Inc. and
its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries are subject to U.S. income taxes and file a consolidated tax return in the U.S. The Beacon Communications
Group, Ltd., Ameba Inc. and WOW Unlimited Media Inc. are subject to Canadian income taxes on a stand-alone basis and file separate tax
returns in Canada.
Note 19: Commitments and Contingencies
The following is a schedule
of future minimum cash contractual obligations as of March 31, 2025 (in thousands):
Schedule of future minimum lease payments
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
Thereafter
Total
Operating Leases
$ 1,187
$ 1,585
$ 1,356
$ 1,011
$ 1,048
$ 2,149
$ 8,336
Finance Leases
193
51
–
–
–
–
244
Employment Contracts
2,114
839
538
498
–
–
3,989
Consulting Contracts
2,580
769
–
–
–
–
3,349
Debt
7,791
–
–
–
–
–
7,791
Production Financing
484
–
–
–
–
–
484
Contractual obligation
$ 14,349
$ 3,244
$ 1,894
$ 1,509
$ 1,048
$ 2,149
$ 24,193
24
Leases
The present value discount
of the minimum operating lease payments above was $ 2.2 million which when deducted from the cash commitments for the leases included in
the table above, equates to the lease liabilities of $ 6.2 million recorded as of March 31, 2025 on the Company’s condensed
consolidated balance sheet.
Employment contracts
The Company has entered into
employment agreements with certain key executives, which remain in effect for fixed terms. Under these agreements, the executives receive
a base salary, subject to potential reviews at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Some of these agreements also include provisions
for severance benefits in certain circumstances. As a result, the Company's commitments under these agreements represent future salary
or severance payments obligations.
Other Funding Commitments
The Company enters into various
agreements associated with its individual properties. Some of these agreements call for the potential future payment of royalties or “profit”
participations for either (i) the use of third party intellectual property, in which the Company is obligated to share net profits with
the underlying rights holders on a certain basis as defined in the respective agreements, or (ii) services rendered by animation studios,
post-production studios, writers, directors, musicians or other creative talent for which the Company is obligated to share with these
service providers a portion of the net profits of the properties on which they have rendered services, as defined in each respective agreement.
In May 2024, the Company entered
into a license agreement for the animated television series Andrew the Big BIG Unicorn , under which it committed to provide a non-refundable
advance to one of the co-producers. As of March 31, 2025, approximately $0.5 million of the committed advance remains unpaid
and is expected to be funded in 2025. The advance is recoupable from future distribution and licensing revenues generated within the Company’s
licensed territories.
Note 20: Related Party Transactions
Pursuant to his employment
agreement dated December 7, 2020, Andy Heyward, the Company’s CEO, is entitled to an executive producer fee of $ 12,500 per one-half
hour episode for each episode he provides services as an executive producer . During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024,
Mr. Heyward did no t earn any executive producer fees. Mr. Heyward also earned his $ 55,000 quarterly bonus during the three months ended
March 31, 2025 and 2024.
On August 25, 2022, Mr. Heyward’s
employment agreement was amended to include assignment of music royalties to Mr. Heyward for all musical compositions in which he provides
services as a composer for or on behalf of the Company, in the event that the Company acquires up to 50 % of the writer's share of the
royalties for that musical composition. If the Company acquires more than 50 % of the writer's share of the royalties on musical compositions
Mr. Heyward provided services for, he has the option to purchase the additional royalties from the Company at the price the Company paid
to acquire the additional royalties. During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, Mr. Heyward has no t earned royalties from
musical compositions.
On February 27, 2023, Mr.
Heyward’s employment agreement was further amended to provide him a creative producer fee of $ 100,000 per quarter, prorated for
the three months ended March 31, 2024, for services rendered to Wow. During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024,
Mr. Heyward earned $ 100,000 in creative producer fees.
On July 21, 2020, the Company
entered into a merchandising and licensing agreement with Andy Heyward Animation Art (“AHAA”), whose principal is Andy Heyward.
The Company entered into a customary merchandise license agreement with AHAA for the use of characters and logos related to Warren Buffett’s
Secret Millionaires Club and Stan Lee’s Mighty 7 in connection with certain products to be sold by AHAA. The terms
and conditions of such license are customary within the industry, and the Company earns an industry standard royalty on all sales made
by AHAA utilizing the licensed content. During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, Mr. Heyward has no t earned royalties from
this agreement.
25
On July 19, 2022, the
Company entered into a Shareholder Loan Agreement with YFE in the amount of EURO 1.3
million, accruing interest at the fixed annualized rate of 5 %,
with successive interest periods of three
months due on the last day of each calendar quarter. The principal plus interest were to be repaid by no later than June 30, 2026.
On April 27, 2025, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with YFE to resolve the outstanding Shareholder Loan Agreement.
Pursuant to the settlement, the Company accepted a reduced repayment amount of $ 0.4 million,
payable in two installments no later than June 2025, in full satisfaction of the loan balance. Although the settlement agreement
became effective in April 2025, the Company recorded an adjustment to the balance of the loan and recognized a loss of
approximately $0.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025, as the negotiations were at an advanced stage and the
transaction was considered probable and reasonably estimable. As of March 31, 2025, $ 0.4 million
is included within current assets on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
During 2022, the Company
entered into a sublease agreement with a related party to lease one
office in the general office space at 190 N. Canon Drive, Suite 400, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. The monthly income was $ 595
during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and recorded within Other Expense, net in the Company's condensed
consolidated statements of operations.
During the quarter ended
September 30, 2024, the Company entered into a one year consulting agreement with a
related party for office space interior design services. The agreement was subject to an initial fee of $ 6,545 and a monthly fee of $ 595 that commenced on September
1, 2024. The monthly expense was $ 595 and $ 0 during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively,
and was recorded within General and Administrative expenses in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Note 21: Segment Reporting
ASC Topic 280 Segment Reporting
establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statement information about operating segments, products, services, geographic
areas, and major customers. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities from which
it may recognize revenues and incur expenses, and for which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by
the Company’s chief operating decision maker, or group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
The Company’s chief
operating decision maker (“CODM”) uses revenue and net income (loss) to evaluate the profitability and performance of each
operating segment. The CODM does not evaluate the operating segments using asset information and it is therefore not disclosed. Segment
operating expenses include operating expenses directly attributable to the segment as well as certain shared corporate administration
services and other costs which are allocated to the reportable segments, such as legal expenses, human resources expenses, accounting
expenses, insurance expenses, and corporate facilities expenses. Segment operating expenses exclude certain non-recurring items and other
costs, such as interest expense, interest income, share-based compensation expense, and taxes. The Company’s CODM evaluates the
performance of each reportable segment based on segment operating income (loss) because it provides insight to operational leverage and
other operational metrics for each segment.
The Company has identified
two operating segments based on the nature of the products and services offered:
Content Production and Distribution
segment includes the operations of Kartoon Studios, Inc, Mainframe Studios, and Frederator Studios. These entities are aggregated due
to their similar economic characteristics, nature of products and services, production processes, customer types, and distribution methods.
This segment is focused on the creation, production, and distribution of animated and live-action content, as well as licensing and royalty
revenue from intellectual property.
26
Media Advisory and Advertising
Services segment includes The Beacon Media Group and The Beacon Communications Group. These entities provide media advisory and advertising
services and marketing services.
The CEO (CODM) reviews revenue
and net operating results, as allocated based on the nature of the business activity.
The following table presents the revenue and net
earnings within the Company's two operating segments (in thousands):
Schedule of segment information by revenues and net earnings
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Total Revenues:
Content Production and Distribution
$ 8,637
$ 5,192
Media Advisory and Advertising Services
867
886
Total Revenues
$ 9,504
$ 6,078
Net Loss:
Content Production and Distribution
$ ( 6,026 )
$ ( 6,739 )
Media Advisory and Advertising Services
( 500 )
( 306 )
Total Net Loss Attributable to Kartoon Studios, Inc.
$ ( 6,526 )
$ ( 7,045 )
Geographic Information
The following table provides
information about disaggregated revenue by geographic area (in thousands):
Schedule of segments by geographic area
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Total Revenues:
United States
$ 4,726
$ 3,181
Canada
3,026
140
United Kingdom
1,712
2,559
Other
40
198
Total Revenues
$ 9,504
$ 6,078
Additional considerations
include the use of segment-level budgets and forecasts created by Mainframe Studios, Frederator and Kartoon Studios at the entity level.
The additional financial information prepared by the segment managers is discussed at length in meetings with the CODM. The Company determines
that the revenue information reviewed by the CODM, combined with the financial information discussed with the segment managers is sufficiently
detailed to allow the CODM to assess each component’s performance and make resource allocation decisions. Kartoon Studios, Frederator
and Mainframe Studios are separate entities, although according to ASC 280-10-50-11 all criteria are met in order to present result in
aggregation.
27
When evaluating the Company’s
performance and making key decisions regarding resource allocation, the CODM reviews several metrics included in net income or loss, which
also include the following:
Schedule of segment
allocations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Content Production and Distribution
Media Advisory and Advertising
Total
Revenue
$ 8,637
$ 867
$ 9,504
Less Operating Expenses:
Selling, Marketing and Direct Operating Costs
6,791
79
6,870
General and Administrative Expenses
3,674
1,266
4,940
Other Expenses
–
–
–
Segment results:
$ ( 1,828 )
$ ( 478 )
$ ( 2,306 )
Reconciliation of net (loss) income:
Depreciation Expense
$ 639
$ 47
$ 686
Interest Expense
128
–
128
Stock Based Compensation
87
–
87
Tax provision
–
–
–
Other
3,409
( 25 )
3,384
Net Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests
( 65 )
–
( 65 )
Net Loss Attributable to Kartoon Studios, Inc.
$ ( 6,026 )
$ ( 500 )
$ ( 6,526 )
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Content Production and Distribution
Media Advisory and Advertising
Total
Revenue
$ 5,192
$ 886
$ 6,078
Less Operating Expenses:
Selling, Marketing and Direct Operating Costs
4,757
12
4,769
General and Administrative Expenses
5,128
1,282
6,410
Other Expenses
–
5
5
Segment results:
$ ( 4,693 )
$ ( 413 )
$ ( 5,106 )
Reconciliation of net (loss) income:
Depreciation Expense
$ 908
$ 54
$ 962
Interest Expense
203
–
203
Stock Based Compensation
226
–
226
Tax provision
–
–
–
Other
728
( 161 )
567
Net Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests
( 19 )
–
( 19 )
Net Loss Attributable to Kartoon Studios, Inc.
$ ( 6,739 )
$ ( 306 )
$ ( 7,045 )
28
All other segment items included
in net income or loss are reported on the consolidated statements of operations and described within their respective disclosures.
Note 22: Subsequent Events
Subsequent to March 31,
2025, the Company sold marketable securities and received proceeds of $1.0 million. Additionally, the Company redeemed marketable securities
and received proceeds of $0.3 million.
Subsequent to March 31,
2025, the fair value of the Company’s investment in YFE experienced a decline due to a decrease in YFE’s stock price. As
of May 14, 2025, the share price of YFE was €1.19 compared to €1.81 as of March 31, 2025. The Company will continue
to monitor the investment for any further developments and assess any potential accounting implications.
Effective April 1, 2025, the
Company’s subsidiary, Beacon Communications, executed a rent reassignment agreement relinquishing one floor of its office space
in Toronto to a new tenant who assumed the lease obligation for that floor, and completed the sale of related furniture assets.
On May 14, 2025, at the Company’s
2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”), the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to
the 2020 Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for awards under the 2020 Plan
by 5,000,000 shares. The Company’s stockholders also approved the issuance of up to an aggregate of 17,447,366 shares of the Company’s
Common Stock upon the exercise of the Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrants, and the Placement
Agent Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued in connection with the offering that closed on December 18, 2024.
29
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.