Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Except as set forth below, there have been no material
changes to the Risk Factors set forth in our 2024 Annual Report.
We must raise additional capital to fund
our operations in order to continue as a going concern.
As of September 30, 2025,
we had an accumulated deficit of $758.5 million and total stockholders’ equity of $24.0 million. As of September 30, 2025,
we had total current assets of $27.1 million, including cash of $0.9 million, and restricted cash of $0.5 million, and total current
liabilities of $32.5 million. We had negative working capital of $5.4 million as of September 30, 2025, compared to working capital
of $1.2 million as of December 31, 2024. Subsequent to September 30, 2025, we were successful in raising net proceeds of $6.6 million
in connection with the October Offerings, which closed on October 22, 2025, strengthening our cash position. Management has evaluated
the significance of these conditions in relation to our ability to meet our obligations and concluded, that there is substantial doubt
about our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least one year subsequent to the issuance of the accompanying condensed
consolidated financial statements. In order to address our capital needs, we will need to raise further capital through the sale of equity
or debt securities, financing arrangements or by entering into collaborative, strategic, and/or licensing transactions. There can be no
assurance that we will be able to complete any such financing, collaborative or strategic transactions in a timely manner or on acceptable
terms beyond what we completed on October 22, 2025. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to generate
revenue and raise additional capital. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in accomplishing these objectives. Without
such additional capital, we may be required to curtail or cease operations and be required to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities
other than in the normal course of business which could cause investors to suffer the loss of all or a substantial portion of their investment.
We have incurred net losses since inception.
We have a history of operating
losses and incurred net losses in each fiscal quarter since our inception. During the three months ended September 30, 2025, we generated
total revenues of $9.9 million and incurred a net loss of $6.5 million, while for the same period the previous year, we generated total
revenue of $8.7 million and incurred a net loss of $2.1 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, we
generated total revenues of $29.7 million and incurred a net loss of $19.4 million, while for the same period the previous year, we generated
total revenue of $23.2 million and incurred a net loss of $15.1 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we generated
net revenues of $32.6 million and incurred a net loss attributable to Kartoon Studios Inc. of $20.7 million. These losses, among other
things, have had an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, stockholders’ equity, net current assets and
working capital.
We will need to generate additional
revenue and/or reduce costs to achieve profitability. We are generating revenues derived from our existing properties, properties in production,
and new brands being introduced into the marketplace. However, the ability to sustain these revenues and generate significant additional
revenues and reduce our expenses or achieve profitability will depend upon numerous factors some of which are outside of our control.
Changes in U.S. trade policy, including
proposed tariffs on foreign-produced content, could adversely impact our business operations, particularly due to our reliance on animation
production services based in Canada and Asia.
The U.S. government has indicated
its intent to adopt a new approach to trade policy and in some cases to renegotiate, or potentially terminate, certain existing bilateral
or multilateral trade agreements. It has initiated or is considering the imposition of tariffs on certain foreign goods. Changes in U.S.
trade policy could result in one or more U.S. trading partners adopting responsive trade policies, making it more difficult or costly
for us to conduct our international and domestic operations. As an example, on May 4, 2025, President Trump announced an intention to
impose tariffs on films made outside of the United States. Although our parent company is based in the United States, our primary animation
production operations are located in Canada. The scope of the proposed tariffs is not yet finalized and there is a risk that such measures
could be extended to include animated content produced internationally. Our business operations, financial condition, and results of operations
could be significantly affected by such a measure and the potential expansion of existing tariffs or implementation of new tariffs, trade
restrictions, or retaliatory measures by other countries that could disrupt our established operations. This in turn could require us
to increase prices to our customers, which may reduce demand, or, if we are unable to increase prices, result in lowering our profit margin
on certain services.
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We cannot predict future trade
policy or the terms of any renegotiated trade agreements and their impact on our business. The adoption and expansion of trade restrictions,
the occurrence of a trade war, or other governmental action related to tariffs or trade agreements or policies has the potential to adversely
impact demand for our services, our costs, our customers, our suppliers, and the U.S. economy, which in turn could adversely impact our
business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The loss of one or a few significant customers
could have a material adverse effect on us.
A few customers have in the
past, and may in the future, account for a significant portion of our revenues in any one year or over a period of several consecutive
years. During the three months ended September 30, 2025, we had four customers from which our total revenue exceeded 10% of our total
condensed consolidated revenue. These customers collectively accounted for 85.6% of the total revenue. As of September 30, 2025,
we had four customers whose total accounts receivable exceeded 10% of the total accounts receivable. These customers accounted for 67.5%
of the total accounts receivable as of September 30, 2025. The loss of business from a significant customer could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Offers or availability for sale of a substantial
number of shares of our common stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline.
If our stockholders sell substantial
amounts of our common stock in the public market upon the expiration of any statutory holding period under Rule 144, or shares issued
upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang ”
and, in anticipation of which, the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether or not sales have
occurred or are occurring, also could make more difficult our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related
securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate. In general, under Rule 144, a non-affiliated person
who has held restricted shares of our common stock for a period of six months may sell into the market all of their shares, subject to
us being current in our periodic reports filed with the SEC.
As of September 30, 2025,
approximately 46,484,165 shares of common stock of the 48,913,630 shares of common stock issued are outstanding and freely trading. As
of September 30, 2025, there were 24,150,943 warrants outstanding. Lastly, as of September 30, 2025, there are 973,980 shares
of common stock underlying outstanding options granted, 966,649 shares of common stock underlying outstanding restricted stock units (“RSUs”)
and 9,422,971 shares reserved for issuance under our Kartoon Studios, Inc. 2020 Incentive Plan
A shutdown of the U.S. federal government
may adversely affect our business.
A recurring shutdown of the
U.S. federal government may adversely affect our business operations and regulatory compliance. During such shutdowns, while the SEC’s
EDGAR system remains operational, the unavailability of SEC staff to review filings, issue comments, or declare registration statements
effective may delay our ability to complete public offerings, respond to comment letters, or obtain timely regulatory approvals. These
delays could impact our access to capital markets, hinder strategic transactions, and create uncertainty around our disclosure obligations.
Additionally, the lack of interpretive guidance or exemptive relief during a shutdown may increase legal and compliance risks. There can
be no assurance that future shutdowns will not materially affect our operations or financial condition.
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