Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-238588

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated June 4, 2020)

 

 

Up to $11,564,076 of Class A Common Stock and

9.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock

 

 

We have entered into an At the Market Issuance Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with B. Riley FBR, Inc. (“B. Riley FBR”), relating to the sale of our Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value (“Class A Common Stock”) and 9.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value (“Series A Preferred Stock”). In accordance with the terms of the ATM Agreement, under this prospectus supplement we may offer and sell, from time to time, shares of Class A Common Stock and shares of Series A Preferred Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $11,564,076, through B. Riley FBR, acting as our sales agent. Sales of Class A Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred Stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”). B. Riley FBR is not required to sell any specific amount but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between B. Riley FBR and us, provided that sales of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, will be made at all times at offering prices not lower than $25.00 per share. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

The compensation to B. Riley FBR for the sales of Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock sold under the ATM Agreement will be 3% of the gross proceeds that we receive from the sales. We also agreed to reimburse B. Riley FBR for its legal expenses of $50,000 in connection with entering into the sales agreement, plus (i) $2,500 upon the filing of certain financial information, including the Company’s annual and quarterly reports and the filing of certain post-effective amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, and (ii) up to $15,000 in connection with the filing of any prospectus supplement. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-31 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to B. Riley FBR. In connection with the sale of the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock on our behalf, B. Riley FBR will be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of B. Riley FBR will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to B. Riley FBR with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

 

Our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock are listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbols “CSSE” and “CSSEP,” respectively. The last reported sale price for our Class A Common Stock on June 4, 2020, was $8.06 per share and the last reported sales price for our Series A Preferred Stock on June 4, 2020 was $22.96 per share.

 

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, the aggregate market value of our outstanding voting common equity (i.e., our Class A and Class B Common Stock) held by non-affiliates is $34,692,227, based on a last sale price of $8.90 per share of our Class A Common Stock on April 20, 2020. As of the date hereof, excluding the securities offered hereby, none of our securities have been sold pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the preceding 12 months.

 

Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby are cumulative from the first day of the calendar month in which they are issued and will be payable on the fifteenth day of each calendar month, when, as and if declared by our board of directors. Dividends will be payable out of amounts legally available therefor at a rate equal to 9.75% per annum per $25.00 of stated liquidation preference per share, or $2.4375 per share of Series A Preferred Stock per year.

  

Commencing on June 27, 2023, we may redeem, at our option, the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at a cash redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the redemption date. Prior to June 27, 2023, upon a Change of Control, as defined in on page S-11 of this prospectus supplement, we may redeem, at our option, the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or part, at a cash redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including the redemption date. The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity, will not be subject to any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption, and will not be convertible into or exchangeable for any of our other securities.

 

Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock generally will have no voting rights except for certain limited voting rights in circumstances where dividends payable on the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for eighteen or more consecutive or nonconsecutive monthly dividend periods.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus supplement and future filings.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-13 of this prospectus supplement and page 9 of the accompanying base prospectus (and the reports referenced therein) for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

B. Riley FBR

 

Prospectus Supplement dated June 4, 2020

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT	S-1
CERTAIN CORPORATE INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS	S-1
NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	S-2
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY	S-3
THE OFFERING	S-8
RISK FACTORS	S-13
USE OF PROCEEDS	S-20
CAPITALIZATION	S-21
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES	S-23
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	S-31
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS	S-33
LEGAL MATTERS	S-40
EXPERTS	S-40
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	S-40

 

 

BASE PROSPECTUS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
CERTAIN CORPORATE INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS	1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY	2
RISK FACTORS	9
NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	11
USE OF PROCEEDS	13
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	14
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	28
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	29
DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITS	35
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	36
LEGAL MATTERS	39
EXPERTS	39
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	39
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE	39

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Any investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Potential investors are urged to read and consider the risks and uncertainties relating to an investment in the Company as set forth in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, and in the documents we incorporate by reference herein and therein. Potential investors also should read and consider the risks and uncertainties discussed under the item “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, and may be amended, supplemented, or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business and results of operations. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be seriously harmed. In that event, the market price for our securities could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Relating to COVID-19

 

Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be impacted by the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

 

The global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the various attempts to contain it have created significant volatility, uncertainty and economic disruption. In response to government mandates, health care advisories and otherwise responding to employee and vendor concerns, we have altered certain aspects of our operations. Our workforce has had to spend a significant amount of time working from home, which impacts their productivity and our ability to exercise proper internal controls in our operations. All of our productions are paused, as are productions of third-parties who supply us with content. Other partners have similarly had their operations altered or temporarily suspended, including those partners that we use for our operations as well as development, production and post-production of content. To the extent the resulting economic disruption is severe, we could see some vendors go out of business, resulting in supply constraints and increased costs or delays to our productions. Such production pauses may cause us temporarily to have less new content available on our service in subsequent quarters, which could negatively impact consumer demand for and user retention to our service. Temporary production pauses or permanent shutdowns in production could result in content asset impairments or other charges and will change the timing and amount of cash outflows associated with production activity.

 

The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and the various responses to it impacts our business, operations and financial results will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict, including: the duration and scope of the pandemic; governmental, business and individuals’ actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the pandemic; the availability and cost to access the capital markets; the effect on our customers and customer demand for our services; disruptions or restrictions on our employees’ ability to work and travel; interruptions or restrictions related to the provision of streaming services over the internet, including impacts on content delivery networks and streaming quality; and any stoppages, disruptions or increased costs associated with our development, production, post-production, marketing and distribution of original programming. Furthermore, given increased government expenditures associated with their COVID-19 response, we could see increased government obligations which could negatively impact our results of operations. If we need to access the capital markets, there can be no assurance that financing may be available on attractive terms, if at all. We will continue to actively monitor the issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and may take further actions that alter our business operations, including content production, as may be required by federal, state, local or foreign authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners and stockholders. It is not clear what the potential effects any such alterations or modifications may have on our business, including the effects on our customers, suppliers or vendors, or on our financial results.

 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to an increase in our user additions relative to our quarterly forecast and historic trends. These results, as well as those of other metrics such as revenues, operating margins, net income and other financial and operating data, may not be indicative of results for future periods. Our increase in user additions may reflect the acceleration of growth that we would have seen in subsequent periods, and user growth may slow or reverse, due to slower acquisition and/or higher cancellations, as government and other restrictions are relaxed. In addition to the potential direct impacts to our business, the global economy is likely to be significantly weakened as a result of the actions taken in response to COVID-19. To the extent that such a weakened global economy impacts advertisers’ ability or willingness to pay for advertisements on our service or vendors’ ability to provide services to us, we could see our business and results of operations negatively impacted. In addition, a weakened global economy could impact our ability to collect our outstanding accounts receivable which would have a negative impact on our results of operations.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

It is not possible to predict the actual number of shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred Stock we will sell under the ATM Agreement, or the gross proceeds resulting from those sales.

 

Subject to certain limitations in the ATM Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to B Riley FBR at any time throughout the term of the ATM Agreement. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock that are sold through B Riley FBR will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock during the sales period, the limits we set with B Riley FBR in any applicable placement notice, and the demand for our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during the sales period, it is not possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds we will raise in connection with those sales.

 

The Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

 

Investors who purchase Class A Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred Stock in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. In addition, while the ATM Agreement provides a minimum offering price of $25.00 per share of our Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby, there is no minimum price of our Class A Common Stock offered hereby and there is no maximum sales price for shares of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of shares that they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

 

You may experience immediate dilution in the net tangible book value per share of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock that you purchase.

 

The price per share of Class A Common Stock or the Series A Preferred Stock offered hereunder may be higher than the net tangible book value per share of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 1,379,961 shares of Class A Common Stock are sold at a price of $8.38 per share, which was the closing sale price of our Class A Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 6, 2020, for aggregate gross proceeds of $11,564,076 in this offering, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, you will suffer immediate dilution of $0.31 per share, representing the difference between the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of Class A Common Stock on December 31, 2019 after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price. Assuming that an aggregate of 462,563 shares of Series A Preferred Stock are sold at a price of $25.00 per share, which is the minimum offering price for the Series A Preferred Stock under the ATM Agreement, for aggregate gross proceeds of $11,564,076 in this offering, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, you will suffer immediate dilution of $0.91 per share, representing the difference between the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of Series A Preferred Stock on December 31, 2019 after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price.

 

 

We will have broad discretion in using the proceeds of this offering, and we may not effectively spend the proceeds.

 

We will use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes to support our growth, to pay dividends on our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, and may, in our discretion and subject to the prior consent of Patriot Bank, N.A., our senior lender, use a portion of the net proceeds for dividends on our common stock and the repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock in open market transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 and private transactions. We have not allocated any specific portion of the net proceeds to any particular purpose, and our management will have the discretion to allocate the proceeds as it determines. We will have significant flexibility and broad discretion in applying the net proceeds of this offering, and we may not apply these proceeds effectively. Our management might not be able to yield a significant return, if any, on any investment of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use our net proceeds from this offering.

 

Risks Related to our Capital Stock

 

Our chairman and chief executive officer effectively controls the Company.

 

We have two classes of common stock — Class A Common Stock, each share of which entitles the holder thereof to one vote on any matter submitted to our stockholders, and Class B Common Stock, each share of which entitles the holder thereof to ten votes on any matter submitted to our stockholders. Our chairman and chief executive officer, William J. Rouhana, Jr., has control over the vast majority of all the outstanding voting power as represented by our outstanding Class B and Class A Common Stock and effectively controls the Company. Further, our bylaws provide that any member of our board may be removed with or without cause by the majority of our outstanding voting power, thus Mr. Rouhana exerts significant control over our board. This concentration of ownership and decision making may make it more difficult for other stockholders to effect substantial changes in the Company and may also have the effect of delaying, preventing or expediting, as the case may be, a change in control of the Company.

 

Future sales of substantial amounts of our Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, or the possibility that such sales might occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, respectively.

 

We cannot predict the effect, if any, that future issuances or sales of securities, including sales of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the ATM Agreement, will have on the market price of our securities. Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 70 million shares of Class A Common Stock, 20 million shares of Class B Common Stock, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 4,300,000 shares have been designated Series A Preferred Stock. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we have 65,814,315 authorized but unissued shares of our Class A Common Stock remaining available for issuance, 12,186,062 authorized but unissued shares of our Class B Common Stock remaining available for issuance and 8,400,998 authorized but unissued shares of our preferred stock remaining available for issuance. We have outstanding Class W warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 678,822 shares of Class A Common Stock and Class Z warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 180,618 shares of Class A Common Stock. Additionally, under the terms of our contribution agreement with CPE Holdings, Inc. (“CPEH”), an affiliate of Sony Pictures Television, we issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4 million shares of our Class A Common Stock, and we may be required to issue to up to 200,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock as reimbursement for expenses in connection with the creation of our Crackle Plus joint venture and up to an aggregate of 1,600,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in the event that CPEH elects to exchange its membership interest in the joint venture for shares of our Series A Preferred Stock. Issuances or sales of substantial amounts of our securities, or the perception that such issuances might occur, could negatively impact the market price of our securities.

 

 

The market for our securities may not provide investors with adequate liquidity.

 

Liquidity of the market for the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock depends on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, our financial condition and operating results, the number of holders of such securities, the market for similar securities and the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the securities. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in the Company will maintain a trading market in our Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, or how liquid that market will be. If an active market is not maintained, investors may have difficulty selling shares of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock.

 

We may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

On or after June 27, 2023, we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time. Also, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control prior to June 27, 2023, we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred. We may have an incentive to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock voluntarily if market conditions allow us to issue other preferred stock or debt securities at a rate that is lower than the dividend rate on the Series A Preferred Stock. If we redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, then from and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights as a holder of those shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption.

 

We currently do not plan to pay any dividends on our common stock.

 

The payment of cash dividends on our common stock in the future will be dependent upon our revenue and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition, our obligation to pay dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock, as well as the limitations on dividends and distributions that exist under our lending agreement, the laws and regulations of the State of Delaware and will be within the discretion of our board of directors. As a result, any gain you may realize on our common stock (including shares of common stock obtained upon exercise of our warrants) may result solely from the appreciation of such shares.

 

We may not be able to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock if we fall out of compliance with our loan covenants and are prohibited by our bank lender from paying dividends.

 

Our credit facility with Patriot Bank, N.A. requires us to maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio. Related to this obligation, the credit facility contains a negative covenant that restricts our ability to make dividend payments and other distributions and payments to stockholders and certain other people if such payments, distributions or expenditures would result in an event of default under the credit facility or any other indebtedness, or would exceed our net earnings in excess of its debt service obligations. In particular, the credit facility requires us to maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.25 to 1.0. In the event we do not meet the covenant in any period we have a 90 day cure period. However, we cannot assure you that we will continue to meet the covenants in our credit facility in the future, or that we will not be prevented from paying dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock due to a future failure to comply with such covenants.

 

 

We must adhere to prescribed legal requirements and have sufficient cash in order to be able to pay dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock.

 

In accordance with Section 170 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, we may only declare and pay cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock if we have either net profits during the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year, or a “surplus”, meaning the excess, if any, of our net assets (total assets less total liabilities) over our capital. We can provide no assurance that we will satisfy such requirements in any given year. Further, even if we have the legal ability to declare a dividend, we may not have sufficient cash to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock. Our ability to pay dividends may be impaired if any of the risks described herein actually occur. Also, payment of our dividends depends upon our financial condition and other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. We cannot assure you that our businesses will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

A holder of Series A Preferred Stock has extremely limited voting rights.

 

The voting rights for a holder of Series A Preferred Stock are limited. Our shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class and are the only class of our securities that carry full voting rights. Mr. Rouhana, our chairman of the board and chief executive officer, beneficially owns the vast majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. As a result, Mr. Rouhana exercises a significant level of control over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendment of our certificate of incorporation, and approval of significant corporate transactions. This control could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company or changes in management and will make the approval of certain transactions difficult or impossible without his support, which in turn could reduce the price of our Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Voting rights for holders of the Series A Preferred Stock exist primarily with respect to the ability to elect, voting together with the holders of any other series of our preferred stock having similar voting rights, two additional directors to our board of directors, subject to limitations described in the section of the base prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock—Series A Preferred Stock—Voting Rights,” in the event that eighteen monthly dividends (whether or not consecutive) payable on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears, and with respect to voting on amendments to our certificate of incorporation, including the certificate of designations relating to the Series A Preferred Stock, that materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock or authorize, increase or create additional classes or series of our capital stock that are senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. Other than the limited circumstances described in the base prospectus and except to the extent required by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights. Please see the section of the base prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock—Series A Preferred Stock—Voting Rights.”

 

The market price of the Class A Common Stock and the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock could be substantially affected by various factors.

 

The market price of the securities offered in this prospectus supplement could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors. The price of the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock that will prevail in the market after this offering may be higher or lower than the offering price depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance.

 

 

These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

·

prevailing interest rates, increases in which may have an adverse effect on the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock;

 

·

trading prices of similar securities;

 

·

our history of timely dividend payments;

 

·

the annual yield from dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock as compared to yields on other financial instruments;

 

·

general economic and financial market conditions;

 

·

government action or regulation;

 

·

the financial condition, performance and prospects of us and our competitors;

 

·

changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts with respect to us or our competitors in our industry;

 

·

our issuance of additional preferred equity or debt securities; and

 

·

actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results of us and our competitors.

 

As a result of these and other factors, investors who purchase the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock in this offering may experience a decrease, which could be substantial and rapid, in the market price of the securities purchased, including decreases unrelated to our operating performance or prospects.

 

The Series A Preferred Stock ranks junior to all our indebtedness and other liabilities.

 

In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, our assets will be available to pay obligations on the Series A Preferred Stock only after all our indebtedness and other liabilities have been paid. The rights of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to participate in the distribution of our assets will rank junior to the prior claims of our current and future creditors and any future series or class of preferred stock we may issue that ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. Also, the Series A Preferred Stock effectively ranks junior to all existing and future indebtedness and to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our existing subsidiaries and any future subsidiaries. Our existing subsidiaries are, and future subsidiaries would be, separate legal entities and have no legal obligation to pay any amounts to us in respect of dividends due on the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

We have incurred and may in the future incur substantial amounts of debt and other obligations that will rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, our total liabilities (excluding contingent consideration) equaled approximately $76.6 million, including approximately $15 million owed under our credit facility with Patriot Bank, N.A. If we are forced to liquidate our assets to pay our creditors, we may not have sufficient assets to pay amounts due on any or all the Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding.

 

 

Market interest rates may materially and adversely affect the value of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

One of the factors that will influence the price of the Series A Preferred Stock is the dividend yield on the Series A Preferred Stock (as a percentage of the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock) relative to market interest rates. Increases in market interest rates may lead prospective purchasers of the Series A Preferred Stock to expect a higher dividend yield (and higher interest rates would likely increase our borrowing costs and potentially decrease funds available for dividend payments). Thus, higher market interest rates could cause the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock to materially decrease.

 

Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may be unable to use the dividends-received deduction and may not be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to “qualified dividend income.”

 

Distributions paid to corporate U.S. holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction, and distributions paid to non-corporate U.S. holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may be subject to tax at the preferential tax rates applicable to “qualified dividend income,” only if we have current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Additionally, we may not have sufficient current earnings and profits during future fiscal years for the distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock to qualify as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the distributions fail to qualify as dividends, U.S. holders would be unable to use the dividends-received deduction and may not be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to “qualified dividend income.” If any distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to any fiscal year are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction or preferential tax rates applicable to “qualified dividend income” because of insufficient current or accumulated earnings and profits, it is possible that the market value of the Series A Preferred Stock might decline.

 

A reduction in the credit rating of our Series A Preferred Stock could adversely affect the pricing and liquidity of such stock.

 

Any downward revision or withdrawal of the credit rating on our Series A Preferred Stock could materially adversely affect market confidence in such stock and could cause material decreases in the market price of such stock and could diminish market liquidity. Egan-Jones has initially rated our Series A Preferred Stock as BBB(-). Neither Egan-Jones nor any other agency is under any obligation to maintain any rating assigned to our Series A Preferred Stock and such rating could be revised downward or withdrawn at any time for reasons of general market changes or changes in our financial condition or for no reason at all.

 

The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into Class A Common Stock, including in the event of a Change of Control, and investors will not realize a corresponding upside if the price of the Class A Common Stock increases.

 

The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock and earns dividends at a fixed rate. Accordingly, an increase in market price of our Class A Common Stock will not necessarily result in an increase in the market price of our Series A Preferred Stock. The market value of the Series A Preferred Stock may depend more on dividend and interest rates for other preferred stock, commercial paper and other investment alternatives and our actual and perceived ability to pay dividends on, and in the event of dissolution satisfy the liquidation preference with respect to, the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

 

PUBLIC MARKET FOR OUR SECURITIES

 

Our Class A Common Stock has been trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CSSE” since July 26, 2017. Our Series A Preferred Stock has been trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CSSEP” since June 27, 2018.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereby will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes including mergers and acquisitions, debt repayments, dividends, and share repurchases. Pending the application of such proceeds, we expect to invest the proceeds in short-term, interest bearing, investment-grade marketable securities or money market obligations.

 

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2019 on an actual basis and on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to the sale by us of an aggregate of (i) 1,379,961 shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby at an offering price of $8.38 per share, which was the closing price of our Class A Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 6, 2020, or (ii) 462,563 shares of Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby at an offering price of $25.00 per share, and in each case after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

You should read this table together with our financial statements and the related notes thereto, as well as “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the other financial information, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus from our SEC filings, including our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
		December 31, 2019
		Actual				As Adjusted				As Adjusted
						(unaudited)				(unaudited)
						Series A Preferred (1)				Class A Common (2)
Commercial loan, net of unamortized deferred finance cost of $179,373		$	15,010,475			$	15,010,475			$	15,010,475
Revolving Credit Facility			5,000,000				5,000,000				5,000,000
Stockholders’ equity
Series A 9.75% cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock, $.0001 par value, liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 1,599,002 and adjusted 2,061,565 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, redemption value of $39,975,050 and adjusted $51,539,123, respectively			160				206				160
Class A Common Stock, $.0001 par value, 70,000,000 shares authorized; 4,259,920 shares issued and 4,185,685 shares outstanding, and adjusted 5,639,881 shares issued and 5,565,646 shares outstanding, respectively			425				425				563
Class B Common Stock, $.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 7,813,938 shares issued and 7,817,238 shares outstanding			782				782				782
Additional paid-in capital			87,610,030				98,751,034				98,750,942
Retained (deficit) earnings			(32,695,629	)			(32,695,629	)			(32,695,629	)
Class A Common Stock held in treasury, at cost (74,235 shares)			(632,729	)			(632,729	)			(632,729	)
Total stockholders’ equity		$	54,283,039			$	65,424,089			$	65,424,089

 

(1)

Reflects the sale of the full amount of securities offered under this prospectus supplement as shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, or 462,563 shares of Series A Preferred Stock at an offering price of $25.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $11,564,075.

 

(2)

Reflects the sale of the full amount of securities offered under this prospectus supplement as shares of our Class A Common Stock, or 1,379,961 shares of Class A Common Stock at an offering price of $8.38 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $11,564,073.

 

 

The table above is based on:

 

	●	4,185,685 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2019, and excludes, as of such date:
			o	1,032,500 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding options and stock awards under our 2017 stock incentive plan (“2017 Plan”);
			o	an additional 217,500 shares of Class A Common Stock available for issuance under the 2017 Plan;
			o	678,822 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying our outstanding Class W warrants with an exercise price of $7.50 per share, 180,618 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying our Class Z warrants with an exercise price of $12.00 per share, 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying our outstanding Class I Warrants with an exercise price of $8.13 per share, 1,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying our Class II Warrants with an exercise price of $9.67 per share, 380,000 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying our Class III-A Warrants with an exercise price of $11.61 per share, and 1,620,000 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying our Class III-B Warrants with an exercise price of $11.61 per share.
	●	7,813,938 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2019; and
	●	1,599,002 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2019.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Authorized Capital Stock

 

We are authorized to issue 70,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 20,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 4,300,000 has been designated as Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Common Stock

 

Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock have substantially identical rights, except that holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of shares of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of stockholders, unless otherwise required by law or our charter. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the voting power voting for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.

 

Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are treated equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividends or distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by the board of directors out of any assets legally available therefor. Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.

 

The outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible at any time as follows: (a) at the option of the holder, a share of Class B Common Stock may be converted at any time into one share of Class A Common Stock or (b) upon the election of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock may be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock. Once converted into Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock will not be reissued.

 

Series A Preferred Stock

 

Credit Rating

Our Series A Preferred Stock has been rated BBB(-) by Egan-Jones Rating Co., a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”). The Series A Preferred Stock has not been rated by any other NRSRO or other agency. A securities rating reflects only the view of a rating agency and is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold the Series A Preferred Stock. Any rating may be subject to revision upward or downward or withdrawal at any time by a rating agency if such rating agency decides that circumstances warrant that change. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. No report of any rating agency is being incorporated herein by reference.

 

The credit ratings assigned by Egan-Jones are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

 

	·	Likelihood of payment-capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
	·	Nature of and provisions of the obligation; and
	·	Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

 

Credit ratings assigned by Egan-Jones are expressed in terms of default risk. The rating scale utilized by Egan-Jones is as follows:

 

	·	AAA — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Egan-Jones. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
	·	AA — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
	·	A — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong
	·	BBB — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
	·	BB, B, CCC, CC, and C — Obligations rated “BB”, “B”, “CCC”, “CC”, and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
	·	D — An obligation rated “D” is in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Egan-Jones believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
	·	Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

No Maturity, Sinking Fund or Mandatory Redemption

The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless we decide to redeem or otherwise repurchase them. We are not required to set aside funds to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Ranking

The Series A Preferred Stock ranks, with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up:

 

	·	senior to all classes or series of our common stock and to all other equity securities issued by us other than equity securities referred to in the next two bullet points below;
	·	on a parity with all equity securities issued by us with terms specifically providing that those equity securities rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up;
	·	junior to all equity securities issued by us with terms specifically providing for ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up (please see the section entitled “Voting Rights” below); and
	·	effectively junior to all our existing and future indebtedness (including indebtedness convertible to our common stock or preferred stock) and to any indebtedness and other liabilities of (as well as any preferred equity interests held by others in) our existing subsidiaries.

 

Dividends

Holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds of the Company legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 9.75% of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference per annum (equivalent to $2.4375 per annum per share). Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall be payable monthly on the 15th day of each month; provided that if any dividend payment date is not a business day, as defined in the certificate of designations, then the dividend that would otherwise have been payable on that dividend payment date may be paid on the next succeeding business day and no interest, additional dividends or other sums will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that dividend payment date to that next succeeding business day. Any dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock, including dividends payable for any partial dividend period, will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months; however, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby will be credited as having accrued dividends since the first day of the calendar month in which they are issued. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in our stock records for the Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the last day of the calendar month, whether or not a business day, immediately preceding the month in which the applicable dividend payment date falls. As a result, holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not be entitled to receive dividends on a dividend payment date if such shares were not issued and outstanding on the applicable dividend record date.

 

 

No dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be authorized by our board of directors or paid or set apart for payment by us at any time when the terms and provisions of any agreement of ours, including any agreement relating to our indebtedness, prohibit the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment thereof or provide that the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment thereof would constitute a breach of the agreement or a default under the agreement, or if the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accrue whether or not we have earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of those dividends and whether or not those dividends are declared by our board of directors. No interest, or sum in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A Preferred Stock that may be in arrears, and holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any dividends in excess of full cumulative dividends described above. Any dividend payment made on the Series A Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliest accumulated but unpaid dividend due with respect to those shares.

 

Future distributions on our common stock and preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash flow from operations, financial condition and capital requirements, any debt service requirements and any other factors our board of directors deems relevant. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to make cash distributions on our preferred stock or what the actual distributions will be for any future period.

 

Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been or contemporaneously is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, no dividends (other than in shares of common stock or in shares of any series of preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment upon shares of our common stock or preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to, or on a parity with, the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Nor shall any other distribution be declared or made upon shares of our common stock or preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to, or on a parity with, the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Also, any shares of our common stock or preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up shall not be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by us (except by conversion into or exchange for our other capital stock that we may issue ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up).

 

 

When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of any other series of preferred stock that we may issue ranking on a parity as to the payment of dividends with the Series A Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series A Preferred Stock and any other series of preferred stock that we may issue ranking on a parity as to the payment of dividends with the Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series A Preferred Stock and such other series of preferred stock that we may issue shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the Series A Preferred Stock and such other series of preferred stock that we may issue (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A Preferred Stock that may be in arrears.

 

Liquidation Preference

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of the assets we have legally available for distribution to our shareholders, subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of our capital stock we may issue ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date of payment, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock we may issue that ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.

 

In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of our capital stock that we may issue ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and all other such classes or series of capital stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

 

We will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide written notice of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up no fewer than 10 days prior to the payment date. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. The consolidation or merger of us with or into any other corporation, trust or entity or of any other entity with or into us, or the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business, shall not be deemed a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us (although such events may give rise to the special optional redemption to the extent described below).

 

Optional Redemption

On and after June 27, 2023, we may, at our option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption.

 

 

Special Optional Redemption

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, we may, at our option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the redemption date.

 

A “Change of Control” is deemed to occur when the following have occurred and are continuing:

	·	the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (other than Mr. Rouhana, the chairman of our board of directors, our chief executive officer and our principal stockholder, any member of his immediate family, and any “person” or “group” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, that is controlled by Mr. Rouhana or any member of his immediate family, any beneficiary of the estate of Mr. Rouhana, or any trust, partnership, corporate or other entity controlled by any of the foregoing), of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of our stock entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of our directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and
	·	following the closing of any transaction referred to above, neither we nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or American Depositary Receipts representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE American, or Nasdaq, or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE American, or Nasdaq.

 

Redemption Procedures.

In the event we elect to redeem Series A Preferred Stock, the notice of redemption will be mailed to each holder of record of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption at such holder’s address as it appears on our stock transfer records, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, and will state the following:

 

·

the redemption date;

·

the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed;

·

the redemption price;

·

the place or places where certificates (if any) for the Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price;

·

that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on the redemption date;

·

whether such redemption is being made pursuant to the provisions described above under “—Optional Redemption” or “—Special Optional Redemption”; and

·

if applicable, that such redemption is being made in connection with a Change of Control and, in that case, a brief description of the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control.

 

If less than all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed. No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

 

 

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the Series A Preferred Stock at the place designated in the notice of redemption and shall be entitled to the redemption price and any accumulated and unpaid dividends payable upon the redemption following the surrender. If notice of redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock has been given and if we have irrevocably set aside the funds necessary for redemption in trust for the benefit of the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date (unless default shall be made by us in providing for the payment of the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any), dividends will cease to accrue on those shares of Series A Preferred Stock, those shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of those shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption. If any redemption date is not a business day, then the redemption price and accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption may be paid on the next business day and no interest, additional dividends or other sums will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after that redemption date to that next business day. If less than all of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by any other equitable method we determine.

 

In connection with any redemption of Series A Preferred Stock, we shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date, unless a redemption date falls after a dividend record date and prior to the corresponding dividend payment date, in which case each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on such dividend record date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding dividend payment date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before such dividend payment date. Except as provided above, we will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed.

 

No shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid and all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed. We shall not otherwise purchase or acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series A Preferred Stock (except by exchanging it for our capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition by us of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Subject to applicable law, we may purchase shares of Series A Preferred Stock in the open market, by tender or by private agreement. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock that we acquire may be retired and reclassified as authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, without designation as to class or series, and may thereafter be reissued as any class or series of preferred stock.

 

Voting Rights

Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights, except as set forth below or as otherwise required by law.

 

On each matter on which holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote. In instances described below where holders of Series A Preferred Stock vote with holders of any other class or series of our preferred stock as a single class on any matter, the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of each such other class or series will have one vote for each $25.00 of liquidation preference (excluding accumulated dividends) represented by their respective shares.

 

 

Whenever dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for eighteen or more monthly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be automatically increased by two (if not already increased by two by reason of the election of directors by the holders of any other class or series of our preferred stock we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and with which the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to vote as a class with respect to the election of those two directors) and the holders of Series A Preferred Stock (voting separately as a class with all other classes or series of preferred stock we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of those two directors) will be entitled to vote for the election of those two additional directors (the “preferred stock directors”) at a special meeting called by us at the request of the holders of record of at least 25% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or by the holders of any other class or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of those two preferred stock directors (unless the request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of shareholders, in which case, such vote will be held at the earlier of the next annual or special meeting of shareholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting until all dividends accumulated on the Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment. In that case, the right of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to elect any directors will cease and, unless there are other classes or series of our preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, any preferred stock directors elected by holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall immediately resign and the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall be reduced accordingly. In no event shall the holders of Series A Preferred Stock be entitled under these voting rights to elect a preferred stock director that would cause us to fail to satisfy a requirement relating to director independence of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which any class or series of our capital stock is listed or quoted. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the total number of preferred stock directors elected by holders of the Series A Preferred Stock (voting separately as a class with all other classes or series of preferred stock we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of such directors) under these voting rights exceed two. Any person nominated to serve as a director of the Company under the foregoing terms shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

If a special meeting is not called by us within 30 days after request from the holders of Series A Preferred Stock as described above, then the holders of record of at least 25% of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock may designate a holder to call the meeting at our expense.

 

If, at any time when the voting rights conferred upon the Series A Preferred Stock are exercisable, any vacancy in the office of a preferred stock director shall occur, then such vacancy may be filled only by a written consent of the remaining preferred stock director, or if none remains in office, by vote of the holders of record of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of the preferred stock directors. Any preferred stock director elected or appointed may be removed only by the affirmative vote of holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which classes or series of preferred stock are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of the preferred stock directors, such removal to be effected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any such other classes or series of preferred stock, and may not be removed by the holders of the common stock.

 

 

So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66.67% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting together as a class with all other series of parity preferred stock that we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable), (a) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify any of our authorized capital stock into such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or (b) unless redeeming all Series A Preferred Stock in connection with such action, amend, alter, repeal or replace our certificate of incorporation, including by way of a merger, consolidation or otherwise in which we may or may not be the surviving entity, so as to materially and adversely affect and deprive holders of Series A Preferred Stock of any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock (each, an “Event”). An increase in the amount of the authorized preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, or the creation or issuance of any additional Series A Preferred Stock or other series of preferred stock that we may issue, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such series, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed an Event and will not require us to obtain 66.67% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and all such other similarly affected series, outstanding at the time (voting together as a class).

 

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be affected, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to affect such redemption.

 

Except as expressly stated in the certificate of designations or as may be required by applicable law, the Series A Preferred Stock do not have any relative, participating, optional or other special voting rights or powers and the consent of the holders thereof shall not be required for the taking of any corporate action.

 

No Conversion Rights

The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into our common stock or any other security.

 

No Preemptive Rights

No holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will, as holders of Series A Preferred Stock, have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for our common stock or any other security.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We have entered into an at market issuance sales agreement, or sales agreement, with B. Riley FBR, Inc., or B. Riley FBR, under which we may issue and sell shares of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock and having aggregate gross sales proceeds of up to $11,564,076 from time to time through or to B. Riley FBR, as sales agent or principal. The minimum offering price at which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be sold is $25.00 per share. B. Riley FBR may sell the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Each time we wish to issue and sell Class A Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred Stock under the sales agreement, we will notify B. Riley FBR of the number or dollar value of shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred Stock to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, and any minimum price below which sales shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred Stock may not be made. Once we have so instructed B. Riley FBR, unless B. Riley FBR declines to accept the terms of such notice, B. Riley FBR has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of B. Riley FBR under the sales agreement to sell our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock are subject to a number of customary conditions that we must meet.

 

Settlement for shares of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock will occur on the second trading day following the date on which the sale was made. Sales of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock as contemplated in this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and B. Riley FBR may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

We will pay B. Riley FBR a commission of up to 3% of the gross proceeds from each sale. We also agreed to reimburse B. Riley FBR for its legal expenses of $50,000 in connection with entering into the sales agreement, plus (i) 2,500 upon the filing of certain financial information, including the Company’s annual and quarterly reports and the filing of certain post-effective amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, and (ii) up to $15,000 in connection with the filing of any prospectus supplement. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. In connection with the sale of the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock on our behalf, B. Riley FBR will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act as amended, and the compensation of B. Riley FBR will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to B. Riley FBR with respect to certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation payable to B. Riley FBR and expense reimbursement under the terms of the sales agreement, will be up to approximately $25,000.

 

The offering of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the termination of the sales agreement as described therein. We and B. Riley FBR may each terminate the sales agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.

 

This summary of the material provisions of the sales agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the sales agreement is filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

 

 

To the extent required by Regulation M under the Exchange Act, B. Riley FBR will not engage in any market making activities involving our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus.

 

B. Riley FBR and its affiliates have in the past and may in the future provide various investment banking and/or other financial services for us and/or our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees.

 

In addition, the sales agreement provides that we will not (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any of our securities to facilitate the sale or resale of common stock, or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase common stock in violation of Regulation M, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the common stock under the sales agreement other than B. Riley FBR.

 

 

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following general discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be applicable to “U.S. holders” and “Non-U.S. holders” (each as defined below) with respect to the initial purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock offered by this prospectus. This discussion only applies to purchasers who purchase and hold the shares of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (generally property held for investment). This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to each purchaser or holder of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock in light of his, her, or its particular circumstances.

 

This discussion is based upon provisions of the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations, rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. These authorities may change, perhaps retroactively, which could result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation (such as the alternative minimum tax) and does not describe any foreign, state, local or other tax considerations that may be relevant to a purchaser or holder of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock in light of their particular circumstances. In addition, this discussion does not describe the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to a purchaser or a holder of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock who is subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws (including, a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax, a pass-through entity or an investor in a pass-through entity, a tax-exempt entity, pension or other employee benefit plans, financial institutions or broker-dealers, persons holding the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock as part of a hedging or conversion transaction or straddle, a person subject to the alternative minimum tax, an insurance company, former U.S. citizens or former long-term U.S. residents). We cannot assure you that a change in law will not significantly alter the tax considerations that we describe in this discussion.

 

If a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner of that partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership or a partner of a partnership holding the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, you should consult your tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock.

 

You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of these securities, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws.

 

U.S. Holders

 

Subject to the qualifications set forth above, the following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations that may relate to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock by “U.S. holders.” You are a “U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock and you are for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

·

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

 

 

·

a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

·

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

·

a trust if it (i) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

  

Distributions in General

 

If distributions are made with respect to the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, such distributions will be treated as dividends to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined under the Code. Any portion of a distribution that exceeds such earnings and profits will first be applied to reduce a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, on a share-by-share basis, and the excess will be treated as gain from the disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, the tax treatment of which is discussed below under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations – U.S. Holders: Disposition of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions.”

 

Under current law, dividends received by individual holders of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock will be subject to a reduced maximum tax rate of 20% if such dividends are treated as “qualified dividend income” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Individual shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of these rules in light of their particular circumstances.

 

Dividends received by corporate shareholders generally will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Each domestic corporate holder of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock is urged to consult with its tax advisors with respect to the eligibility for and the amount of any dividends received deduction and the application of Code Section 1059 to any dividends it may receive on the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Constructive Distributions on Series A Preferred Stock

 

A distribution by a corporation of its stock may be deemed made with respect to its preferred stock in certain circumstances, even when no distribution of cash or property occurs, and such a deemed distribution is treated as a distribution of property to which Section 301 of the Code applies. If a corporation issues preferred stock that may be redeemed at a price higher than its issue price, the excess (a “redemption premium”) is treated under certain circumstances as a constructive distribution (or series of constructive distributions) of additional preferred stock. The constructive distribution of property equal to the redemption premium would accrue without regard to the holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes at a constant yield determined under principles similar to the determination of original issue discount (“OID”) pursuant to Treasury regulations under Sections 1271 through 1275 of the Code (the “OID Rules”). The constructive distributions of property would be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as actual distributions of the Series A Preferred Stock that would constitute a dividend, return of capital or capital gain to the holder of the stock in the same manner as cash distributions described under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations - U.S. Holders: Distributions in General.” The application of principles similar to those applicable to debt instruments with OID to a redemption premium for the Series A Preferred Stock is uncertain.

 

 

We have the right to call the Series A Preferred Stock for redemption on or after June 27, 2023 (the “call option”), and have the option to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock upon any Change of Control (the “contingent call option”). The stated redemption price of the Series A Preferred Stock upon any redemption pursuant to our call option or contingent call option is equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends and is payable in cash.

 

If the redemption price of the Series A Preferred Stock exceeds the issue price of the Series A Preferred Stock upon any redemption pursuant to our call option or contingent call option, the excess will be treated as a redemption premium that may result in certain circumstances in a constructive distribution or series of constructive distributions to U.S. holders of additional Series A Preferred Stock. Assuming that the issue price of the Series A Preferred Stock is determined under principles similar to the OID Rules, the issue price for the Series A Preferred Stock should be the initial offering price to the public (excluding bond houses and brokers) at which a substantial amount of the Series A Preferred Stock is sold.

 

A redemption premium for the Series A Preferred Stock should not result in constructive distributions to U.S. holders of the Series A Preferred Stock if the redemption premium is less than a de minimis amount as determined under principles similar to the OID Rules. A redemption premium for the Series A Preferred Stock should be considered de minimis if such premium is less than 0.0025 of the Series A Preferred Stock’s liquidation value of $25.00 at maturity, multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity. Because the determination under the OID Rules of a maturity date for the Series A Preferred Stock is unclear, the remainder of this discussion assumes that the Series A Preferred Stock is issued with a redemption premium greater than a de minimis amount.

 

The call option should not require constructive distributions of the redemption premium, if based on all of the facts and circumstances as of the issue date, a redemption pursuant to the call option is not more likely than not to occur. The Treasury regulations provide that an issuer’s right to redeem will not be treated as more likely than not to occur if: (i) the issuer and the holder of the stock are not related within the meaning of Section 267(b) or Section 707(b) of the Code (substituting “20%” for the phrase “50%”); (ii) there are no plans, arrangements, or agreements that effectively require or are intended to compel the issuer to redeem the stock; and (iii) exercise of the right to redeem would not reduce the yield on the stock determined using principles applicable to the determination of OID under the OID Rules. The fact that a redemption right is not within the safe harbor described in the preceding sentence does not mean that an issuer’s right to redeem is more likely than not to occur and the issuer’s right to redeem must still be tested under all the facts and circumstances to determine if it is more likely than not to occur. We do not believe that a redemption pursuant to the call option should be treated as more likely than not to occur under the foregoing test. Accordingly, no U.S. holder of the Series A Preferred Stock should be required to recognize constructive distributions of the redemption premium because of our call option.

 

Prospective holders of the Series A Preferred Stock should consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential implications of the constructive distribution rules.

 

Disposition of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions

 

Upon any sale, exchange, redemption (except as otherwise discussed herein) or other disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, a U.S. holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. holder and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock is longer than one year. A U.S. holder should consult its own tax advisors with respect to applicable tax rates and netting rules for capital gains and losses. Certain limitations exist on the deduction of capital losses by both corporate and non-corporate taxpayers.

 

 

A redemption of your Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock for cash will be treated as a sale or exchange if it (1) results in a “complete termination” of a your interest in our stock, (2) is not “essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to you, or (3) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to you, each within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the Code. In determining whether any of these tests have been met, stock considered to be owned by you by reason of certain constructive ownership rules (such as stock owned (actually and in some cases constructively) by certain related individuals and entities and shares you have the right to acquire by exercise of an option or by conversion or exchange of a security), as well as shares actually owned by you, must generally be taken into account. If you do not own (actually or constructively) any additional Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, or own only an insubstantial percentage of our stock, and do not participate in our control or management, a redemption of your Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock will generally qualify for sale or exchange treatment. Otherwise, the redemption may be taxable as a dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as discussed above with respect to distributions generally. Because the determination as to whether any of the alternative tests of Section 302(b) of the Code will be satisfied with respect to any particular U.S. holder depends upon the facts and circumstances at the time that the determination must be made, prospective U.S. holders are advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of a redemption. If a redemption of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock is treated as an exchange, it will be taxable as described in the preceding paragraph. If a redemption is treated as a distribution, the entire amount received will be treated as a distribution and will be taxable as described under the caption “—Distributions in General” above.

 

Additional Medicare Contribution Tax

 

An additional tax of 3.8% generally will be imposed on the “net investment income” of U.S. holders who meet certain requirements and are individuals, estates or certain trusts. Among other items, “net investment income” generally includes gross income from dividends and net gain attributable to the disposition of certain property, such as shares of our Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock. In the case of individuals, this tax will only apply to the lesser of (i) the individual’s “net investment income” or (ii) the excess of such individual's modified adjusted gross income over $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing a joint return and surviving spouses, and $125,000 for married individuals filing a separate return). U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible applicability of this additional tax in their particular circumstances.

  

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Information reporting and backup withholding may apply with respect to payments of dividends on the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock and to certain payments of proceeds on the sale or other disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock. Certain non-corporate U.S. holders may be subject to U.S. backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) on payments of dividends on the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock and certain payments of proceeds on the sale or other disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock unless the beneficial owner thereof furnishes the payor or its agent with a taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, and certain other information, or otherwise establishes, in the manner prescribed by law, an exemption from backup withholding. U.S. backup withholding tax is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, which may entitle the U.S. holder to a refund, provided the U.S. holder timely furnishes the required information to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

 

Non-U.S. Holders

 

Subject to the qualifications set forth above, the following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock by certain “Non-U.S. holders.” You are a “Non-U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock and you are not a “U.S. holder.”

 

Distributions on the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock

 

If distributions of cash or property are made with respect to the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, such distributions will be treated as dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined under the Code and may be subject to withholding as discussed below. Any portion of a distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits will first be applied to reduce the Non-U.S. holder’s basis in the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, and, to the extent such portion exceeds the Non-U.S. holder’s basis, the excess will be treated as gain from the disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, the tax treatment of which is discussed below under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Non-U.S. Holders: Disposition of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions.” In addition, if we are a U.S. real property holding corporation, i.e. a “USRPHC,” and any distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we will need to choose to satisfy our withholding requirements either by treating the entire distribution as a dividend, subject to the withholding rules in the following paragraph (and withhold at a minimum rate of 30% or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty for distributions from a USRPHC), or by treating only the amount of the distribution equal to our reasonable estimate of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as a dividend, subject to the withholding rules in the following paragraph, with the excess portion of the distribution subject to withholding at a rate of 15% or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty as if such excess were the result of a sale of shares in a USRPHC (discussed below under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Non-U.S. Holders: Disposition of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions”), with a credit generally allowed against the Non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability in an amount equal to the amount withheld from such excess.

 

Dividends paid to a Non-U.S. holder of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. However, dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, where a tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. holder in the United States) are not subject to the withholding tax, provided that certain certification and disclosure requirements are satisfied including completing Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form). Instead, such dividends are subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States person as defined under the Code, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. Any such effectively connected dividends received by a foreign corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. A Non-U.S. holder of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock who wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate and avoid backup withholding, as discussed below, for dividends will be required to (i) complete Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form) and certify under penalty of perjury that such holder is not a United States person as defined under the Code and is eligible for treaty benefits, or (ii) if the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock is held through certain foreign intermediaries, satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable Treasury regulations. A Non-U.S. holder of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

 

Disposition of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions

 

Any gain realized by a Non-U.S. holder on the disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless:

 

·

the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the Non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. holder in the United States);

 

·

the Non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition, and certain other conditions are met; or

 

·

we are or have been a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as such term is defined in Section 897(c) of the Code, and such Non-U.S. holder owned directly or pursuant to attribution rules at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of disposition more than 5% of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock. This assumes that the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, within the meaning of Section 897(c)(3) of the Code.

 

A Non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point immediately above will generally be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States person as defined under the Code, and if it is a corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits or at such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. An individual Non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point immediately above will be subject to a flat 30% tax (or at such reduced rate as may be provided by an applicable treaty) on the gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States. A Non-U.S. holder described in the third bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax under regular U.S. federal income tax rates with respect to the gain recognized in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States person as defined under the Code. If a Non-U.S. holder is subject to U.S. federal income tax on any sale, exchange, redemption (except as discussed below), or other disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, such a Non-U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized by the Non-U.S. holder and the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock is longer than one year. A Non-U.S. holder should consult its own tax advisors with respect to applicable tax rates and netting rules for capital gains and losses. Certain limitations exist on the deduction of capital losses by both corporate and non-corporate taxpayers. The receipt of any redemption proceeds attributable to any accrued but unpaid dividends on the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock generally will be subject to the rules discussed above in “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Non-U.S. Holders: Distributions on the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock.” A payment made in redemption of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock may be treated as a dividend, rather than as payment in exchange for the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, in the same circumstances discussed above under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders: Disposition of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, Including Redemptions.” Each Non-U.S. holder of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock should consult its own tax advisors to determine whether a payment made in redemption of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock will be treated as a dividend or as payment in exchange for the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock.

 

  

Information reporting and backup withholding

 

We must report annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to each Non-U.S. holder the amount of dividends paid to such Non-U.S. holder and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends, regardless of whether withholding was required. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the Non-U.S. holder resides or is established under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. A Non-U.S. holder will not be subject to backup withholding on dividends paid to such Non-U.S. holder as long as such Non-U.S. holder certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a Non-U.S. holder (and the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. holder is a United States person as defined under the Code), or such Non-U.S. holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Depending on the circumstances, information reporting and backup withholding may apply to the proceeds received from a sale or other disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a Non-U.S. holder (and the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a United States person as defined under the Code), or such owner otherwise establishes an exemption. U.S. backup withholding tax is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

 

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (provisions which are commonly referred to as “FATCA”), generally impose a 30% withholding tax on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock, to: (i) a foreign financial institution (as that term is defined in Section 1471(d)(4) of the Code) unless that foreign financial institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department to collect and disclose information regarding U.S. account holders of that foreign financial institution (including certain account holders that are foreign entities that have U.S. owners) and satisfies other requirements; and (ii) specified other foreign entities unless such an entity certifies that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner and such entity satisfies other specified requirements. While withholding under FATCA would have also applied to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of shares of our Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock on or after January 1, 2019, recently proposed Treasury regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds. The preamble to these proposed regulations indicates that taxpayers may rely on them pending their finalization. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of FATCA to them and whether it may be relevant to their purchase, ownership and disposition of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered will be passed on for us by our counsel, Graubard Miller, New York, New York. Blank Rome LLP is acting as counsel to the sales agent in connection with this offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in reliance upon the report of Rosenfield and Company, PLLC, independent registered public accounting firm, which is also incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. 

 

The audited historical financial statements of Crackle U.S. (a business of Sony Pictures Entertainment) included in Exhibit 99.1 to the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated July 30, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the offering of the securities offered hereby. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us and our securities. This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement from the SEC at the web address listed above.

 

The registration statement and our SEC filings, including the documents referred to below under “Information Incorporated by Reference,” are also available on our website, www.cssentertainment.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents listed below, all filings we make under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, and all filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after effectiveness of such registration statement and prior to the sale of all of the shares offered hereby:

 

·

our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020;

 

·

our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2020;

  

·

our current reports on Form 8-K or 8-K/A, as applicable, filed with the SEC on each of May 15, 2019, July 30, 2019, February 14, 2020, February 27, 2020, March 12, 2020, March 20, 2020, April 1, 2020, April 17, 2020, and May 15, 2020;

 

·

our proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020;

 

 

·

our registration statement on Form 8-A effective on August 17, 2017, registering our Class A Common Stock under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act; and

 

·

our registration statement on Form 8-A effective on June 26, 2018, registering our Series A Preferred Stock under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

Any statement contained in a document filed before the date of this prospectus supplement and incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement. Any information that we file after the date of this prospectus supplement with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus supplement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not incorporating any document or portion thereof or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rule.

 

We will provide you with a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, without charge, upon written or oral request directed to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. 132 E. Putnam Ave., Floor 2W, Cos Cob, Connecticut 06807, telephone number (855) 398-0443. You may also access the documents incorporated by reference as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

 

 

Prospectus

 

 

$11,564,076 COMMON STOCK, PREFERRED STOCK, WARRANTS, DEBT SECURITIES AND UNITS

 

We may offer and sell from time to time shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants, debt securities and/or units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities offered hereby, at a maximum aggregate offering size not to exceed $11,564,076. The securities may be offered separately, together, or in series, and in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of each offering. We will provide the specific terms of the securities to be sold in a prospectus supplement.

 

We may sell the securities directly to investors, to or through underwriters or dealers or through agents designated from time to time, among other methods. The prospectus supplement for each offering will describe in detail the specific plan of distribution for the securities. The prospectus supplement also will set forth the price to the public of such securities, any placement agent’s fees or underwriter’s discounts and commissions, and the net proceeds we expect to receive from the sale of the securities.

 

Our Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”) is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CSSE” and our 9.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 (“Series A Preferred Stock”), is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the Symbol “CSSEP.” On May 18, 2020, the last reported sale prices of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock were $7.53 and $22.50, respectively. As of the date of this prospectus, none of the other securities that we may offer by this prospectus are listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

 

 

In addition to our Class A Common Stock, we have outstanding Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”). Our Class B Common Stock is not publicly traded and is controlled and beneficially owned by our chief executive officer. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock have substantially identical rights, except that holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of shares of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of stockholders, unless otherwise required by law or our charter. Each share of Class B Common Stock may be converted into a share of Class A Common Stock at any time at the election of the holder.

 

The aggregate market value of our outstanding voting common equity (i.e., our Class A and Class B Common Stock) held by non-affiliates is $34,692,227, based on a last sale price of $8.90 per share of our Class A Common Stock on April 20, 2020. As of the date hereof, excluding the securities offered hereby, none of our securities have been sold pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the preceding 12 months.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” on page 9 in this prospectus and elsewhere in any supplements for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is June 4, 2020

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
CERTAIN CORPORATE INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS	1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY	2
RISK FACTORS	9
NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	11
USE OF PROCEEDS	13
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	14
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	28
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	29
DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITS	35
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	36
LEGAL MATTERS	39
EXPERTS	39
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	39
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE	39

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell or issue any of the combination of securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings with a maximum aggregate offering size of up to $11,564,076.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities off of the “shelf”, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.”

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information and, if provided, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. Neither this prospectus nor any prospectus supplement nor any related issuer free writing prospectus shall constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy offered securities in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offering or solicitation. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits.

 

You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus. You should not assume that the information contained in any prospectus supplement or in the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

CERTAIN CORPORATE INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc., is referred to in this prospectus as “CSSE,” the “Company,” or “we” or similar pronouns. References to:

 

·

“CSS Productions” means Chicken Soup for the Soul Productions, LLC, our immediate parent;

 

·

“CSS” means Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, our intermediate parent company;

 

·

“CSS Holdings” means Chicken Soup for the Soul Holdings, the parent company of CSS and our ultimate parent company;

 

·

“Screen Media” means Screen Media Ventures, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CSSE;

 

·

“A Plus” means A Sharp Inc. (d/b/a Plus), a wholly owned subsidiary of CSSE;

 

·

“Pivotshare” means Pivotshare, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CSSE.

 

·

“Crackle Plus” means Crackle Plus, LLC, a company formed by CSSE and CPE Holdings, Inc. (CPE Holdings, Inc. is an affiliate of Sony Pictures Television Inc.); and

 

·

“Landmark Studio Group” means Landmark Studio Group LLC, a majority owned subsidiary of CSSE.

 

We and our subsidiaries and affiliates have proprietary rights to the trademarks and trade names used herein, including, among others, Chicken Soup for the Soul®, Crackle®, Popcornflix.com®, Popcornflix Kids®, Truli®, and FrightPix®. Solely as a matter of convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to herein may or may not be accompanied with the marks of “TM” or “®”, however, the absence of such marks is not intended to indicate that the Company or its affiliates or subsidiaries will not assert, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, their respective rights to such trademarks and trade names.

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary description about us and our business highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated in this prospectus by reference. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before deciding to invest in our securities. You should carefully read this entire prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including each of the documents incorporated herein or therein by reference, before making an investment decision. Investors should carefully consider the information set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” below and appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, including those described in documents incorporated by reference herein, and those described in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Overview

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. operates streaming video-on-demand networks (“VOD”). The Company owns a majority stake in Crackle Plus, a company formed with Sony Pictures Television (“SPT”), which owns and operates a variety of ad-supported and subscription-based VOD networks including Crackle®, Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids®, Truli®, Pivotshare, Españolflix and FrightPix®. The Company also acquires and distributes video content through its Screen Media subsidiary and produces long and short-form original content through subsidiaries and outside partnerships. The content acquired or produced by the Company is sometimes used exclusively on our networks and is generally also sold to others with the goal of providing our networks access to original and exclusive advertising-supported online video-on-demand (“AVOD”) content at a lower cost and to generate additional revenue and operating cash flow for the Company.

 

Our majority-owned Crackle Plus subsidiary was formed in partnership with SPT in May 2019. Crackle Plus is one of the largest, independent AVOD network groups in the United States, with viewers streaming an average of approximately 30 million programs per month. The popular network, Crackle®, is the largest Crackle Plus network and a top performer on the industry-leading Roku platform. Our VOD networks deliver popular and original new content covering a wide range of themes, including family, kids and faith, as well as proven genres, such as horror and comedy.  We are differentiated among other VOD network operators by our ability to generate original content cost-effectively and by our access to more than 49,000 hours of programming.  Our Screen Media subsidiary has one of the largest independently owned television and film libraries in the industry and provides content to the Crackle Plus networks and third-party networks. Our VOD networks also feature original content produced through our subsidiaries, Landmark Studio Group and A Plus. Our exclusive, perpetual, sublicensable and worldwide license, to create and distribute video content under the Chicken Soup for the Soul® brand (the “Brand”) also allows us to create new Brand-focused AVOD channels, which we expect to do in the future.

 

We believe CSSE is the only independent AVOD network operator with the proven capability to create and distribute original programming and access to an extensive amount of valuable company-owned and third-party library content.  We believe this differentiation is important at a time of a major shift in consumer viewing habits, as the growth in both availability and quality of high-speed broadband enables consumers to consume video content at any time on any device.

 

According to industry projections, the global market for AVOD network revenue is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 21% between 2018 and 2024, reaching $56 billion by the end of the period.  At the same time, advertising spending on linear television networks is expected to decline as more viewers transition from pay television subscriptions to online video viewing.  We believe AVOD networks will grow rapidly as consumers seek affordable programming alternatives to multiple subscription video-on-demand (“SVOD”) offerings.

 

In this environment, our strategy is to build a leading VOD network featuring a range of mass-appeal and thematic programming options.  We are executing on this strategy in three ways:

 

 

·

Increase content. Our “originals and exclusives” focus, supported by our distribution and production business, is designed to distinguish our network brands among viewers.  We are able to add to our existing broad base of content without the significant capital outlay of a traditional television or film studio by producing new originals at low cost through creative partnerships, such as our award-winning 2019 series Going from Broke. Through Screen Media, we are also acquiring the rights to additional exclusive content. Finally, we are expanding our production capacity through partnerships, the formation of our majority owned subsidiary Landmark Studio Group and acquiring additional content libraries, such as our recent acquisition of the Foresight Unlimited film library.

·

Grow and retain audience while adding new networks.  Our goal is to utilize our increasing, exclusive access to quality programming to grow and retain viewers on our existing networks.  As we grow our content libraries, we are also continuously evaluating opportunities to create new thematic networks that feature certain genres and other types of programming that can deliver more targeted advertising opportunities to marketers such as a Chicken Soup for the Soul network for families.  Finally, we are also actively evaluating opportunities to acquire additional AVOD networks that can accelerate our path to scale.

·

Build our advertising sales capability.  As we grow our stable of networks, we are investing in integration of advertising platform technology stacks and the growth of our sales force.  As our advertising sales capability matures, we believe we will be positioned to increase both overall advertising sales and ad insertion rates.

 

Business Strategy

 

We are a media company operating Crackle Plus, our AVOD and SVOD networks group, supported by our distribution and production capabilities. Our goal is to grow our network platform organically and through consolidation to establish a leading AVOD business positioned to capture ad revenue as that revenue increasingly moves from linear TV to online video.

 

Our three main areas of operation for 2019 were:

 

Online VOD Networks. In this operations area, we distribute and exhibit VOD content directly to consumers across all digital platforms, such as connected TVs, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles and the web through our owned and operated AVOD Crackle Plus networks. We also distribute our own and third-party owned content to consumers across various digital platforms through our SVOD network, Pivotshare.

 

Our acquisition of Screen Media in 2017 marked our entry into the direct-to-consumer online VOD market through Popcornflix, which has an extensive footprint with apps that have been downloaded more than 27 million times.

 

Popcornflix is one of the largest AVOD services. Under the Popcornflix brand, we operate a series of direct-to consumer advertising supported channels. As a “free-to-consumer” digital streaming channel, Popcornflix is an extremely popular online video platform that can be found on the web, iPhones and iPads, Android products, Roku, Xbox, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast and Samsung and Panasonic internet connected televisions, among others. Popcornflix is currently available in 61 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Singapore, with additional territories to be added.

 

In October 2018, we completed the acquisition of the assets of Truli Media Corp., which operates a nascent global family-friendly and faith-based online video channel (“Truli”). Truli’s content fits strategically in our thematic network plans and includes film, television, music videos, sports, comedy, and educational material.

 

 

In May 2019, we launched a new streaming video subsidiary known as Crackle Plus, through which we operate VOD networks including, Crackle and Popcornflix. Viewers are able to watch premium video content, such as films and TV shows on our networks. The networks are accessible through various internet connected digital devices such as mobile, tablet, smart TV and console. The networks primarily earn revenue from advertisements placed on the platform through direct and reseller channels. Our entry into subscription-based VOD was initiated by our acquisition of the Pivotshare VOD platform in August 2018. All of our VOD acquisitions are currently in our Crackle Plus subsidiary.  As a result, Crackle Plus, is one of the largest AVOD companies in the United States as well as a targeted SVOD network provider.  Within Crackle Plus we have been primarily focused on growing our AVOD networks and may turn more attention to our SVOD opportunities in the future.

 

Television and Film Distribution. In this operations area, we distribute movies and television series worldwide , through our Screen Media subsidiary, to consumers through license agreements across all media, including theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, free, cable, pay television, VOD, mobile and new digital media platforms worldwide. We own the copyright or long-term distribution rights to over 1,000 television series and feature films, representing one of the largest independently owned libraries of filmed entertainment in the world.

 

We have distribution licensing agreements with numerous VOD services across all major platforms, such as cable and satellite VOD and Internet VOD, which includes TVOD for rentals or purchases of films, AVOD for free-to-viewer streaming of films supported by advertisements and SVOD for unlimited access to films for a monthly fee.

 

Our cable and satellite VOD distribution agreements include those with DirecTV, Cablevision (Altice USA), Verizon and In Demand (owned by Comcast, Charter and Time Warner Cable). Our Internet VOD distribution agreements include those with Amazon, iTunes, Samsung, YouTube, Hulu, Xbox, Netflix, Sony, and Vudu, among others.

 

We have expanded our international distribution capabilities in connection with the acquisition of the Foresight library. We have also expanded our international digital distribution through agreements with iTunes, Sony PlayStation, Xbox, among others.

 

Screen Media’s distribution capabilities across all media give us the ability to monetize various rights to our produced and co-produced television series and films directly, including our content that will be produced through Landmark Studio Group. The cost savings from Screen Media’s distribution capabilities enhance our revenue and profits from our produced or co-produced content. Furthermore, Screen Media supports the programming and content needs of our AVOD networks. The ability to monetize film and TV rights through Screen Media gives us the ability to retain exclusive AVOD rights for some of our acquired or produced films or television series on a cost advantaged basis.

 

Television and Short-Form Video Production. In this operations area, we produce content in two main ways. We work with sponsors and use highly regarded independent producers to develop and produce our television and short-form video content, including Brand-related content. We also derive revenue from our subsidiary A Plus, which develops and distributes high-quality, empathetic short-form videos to millions of people worldwide. A Plus enhances our ability to distribute short form versions of our video productions thereby meeting commitments to sponsors and providing us with content developed and distributed by A Plus that is complementary to the Brand.

 

We utilize the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, together with our management’s industry experience and expertise, to generate revenue through the production and distribution of video content with sponsors.  Since we seek to secure both the committed funding and production capabilities for our video content prior to moving forward with a project, we have high visibility into the profitability of a particular project before committing to proceed with such project. In addition, we take limited financial risk on developing our projects.

 

 

As a result of launching Crackle Plus we decided to change our approach to content production, focusing primarily on co-production partnerships in order to build our AVOD networks, through Crackle Plus, and our worldwide distribution capabilities through Screen Media. By focusing this way, we believe that we will be able to grow our business more rapidly by entering into production agreements with a variety of production partners. In October 2019, we launched Landmark Studio Group (“Landmark”), our first production co-venture subsidiary. Landmark is a fully integrated entertainment company focused on ownership, development, and production of quality entertainment franchises.

 

Landmark develops, produces, distributes and owns all the intellectual property (IP) it creates, building a valuable library. The studio is independent, with the ability to sell its content to any network or platform, while also developing and producing original content for Crackle Plus. Landmark controls all worldwide rights and distributes those rights exclusively through Screen Media.

 

We plan to enter into other similar co-production arrangements going forward. We will only occasionally produce programming internally. As a result, beginning with our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we have combined the activity of this area with our distribution area.

 

Competition

 

We are in a highly competitive business.  The market for streaming entertainment is rapidly changing. We face competition from companies within the entertainment business and from alternative forms of leisure entertainment, such as travel, sporting events, outdoor recreation, video games, the internet and other cultural and computer-related activities. We compete for viewers and programming with much larger companies which have significant resources and brand recognition, including dominant video on demand providers such as Netflix, HBO GO, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Fubo TV, Sling TV, and major film and television studios.  We also compete with numerous independent motion picture and television distribution and production companies, television networks, pay television systems and online media platforms for viewers, subscribers, and the services of performing artists, producers and other creative and technical personnel and production financing, all of which are essential to the success of our businesses.

 

In addition, our video content competes for media outlet and audience acceptance with video content produced and distributed by other companies. As a result, the success of any of our video content is dependent not only on the quality and acceptance of a particular production, but also on the quality and acceptance of other competing video content available in the marketplace at or near the same time.

 

Given such competition, and our stage of development, we emphasize a lower cost structure, risk mitigation, reliance on financial partnerships and innovative financial strategies. We rely on our flexibility and agility as well as the entrepreneurial spirit of our employees, partners and affiliates, in order to provide creative, desirable video content.

 

Intellectual Property

 

We are party to the CSS License Agreement through which we have been granted the perpetual, exclusive, worldwide license by CSS to produce and distribute video content using the brand and related content, such as stories published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Chicken Soup for the Soul and related names are trademarks owned by CSS. We have the proprietary rights (including copyrights) in all company-produced content. As a result of the acquisitions of Screen Media, Pivotshare, Crackle, and other smaller libraries and companies we now own copyrights or global long-term distribution rights to approximately 49,000 hours of content.

 

 

We rely on a combination of copyright, trademark, trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures, contractual provisions and other similar measures to protect our proprietary information and intellectual property rights. Our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights is subject to certain risks and from time to time we encounter disputes over rights and obligations concerning intellectual property, which are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors.”

 

Employees

 

As of March 31, 2020, we had 89 direct employees. The services of certain personnel, including our chairman and chief executive officer, vice chairman and chief strategy officer, our senior brand advisor and director, and chief financial officer, among others, are provided to us under a management services agreement between the Company and CSS. We also utilize many consultants in the ordinary course of our business and hire additional personnel on a project-by-project basis. We believe that our employee and labor relations are good, and we are committed to inclusion and strict policies and procedures to maintain a safe work environment.

 

Corporate Information

 

We are a Delaware corporation formed on May 4, 2016. CSS Productions, our predecessor and immediate parent company, was formed in December 2014 by CSS, and initiated operations in January 2015. We were formed to create a discrete entity focused on video content opportunities using the Brand. In May 2016, pursuant to the terms of the contribution agreement among CSS, CSS Productions and the Company, all video content assets owned by CSS, CSS Productions and their CSS subsidiaries were transferred to the Company in consideration for its issuance to CSS Productions of 8,600,568 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock. Thereafter, CSS Productions’ operating activities ceased, and the Company continued the business operations of producing and distributing the video content.

 

Our address is 132 East Putnam Avenue, Floor 2W, Cos Cob, CT 06807. Our telephone number is (855) 398-0443, and our website address is https://www.cssentertainment.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As long as we are an emerging growth company, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These include, but are not limited to:

 

·

Not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting;

 

·

Not being required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditors’ report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements;

 

·

Reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation; and

 

·

Exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

 

We may remain an “emerging growth company” until as late as December 31, 2022, the fiscal year-end following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, though we may cease to be an emerging growth company earlier under certain circumstances, including if (a) we have more than $1 billion in annual gross revenue in any fiscal year, (b) the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 or (c) we issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period.

 

The Securities We May Offer

 

We may offer up to $11,564,076 in gross proceeds of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities and/or units comprised of one or more of the foregoing classes of securities, in one or more offerings and in any combination. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer securities, will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of these securities.

 

Common Stock

 

We have two classes of common stock which are substantially identical, except that the holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders and the holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes for each share. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our Class A and Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably the dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of legally available funds. If there is a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of our Class A and Class B Common Stock would be entitled to share ratably in our net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all our debts and liabilities and any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

We have one class of preferred stock outstanding, our Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock has been assigned a rating of “BBB(-)” by Egan-Jones Ratings Co. See “Description of Capital Stock – Series A Preferred Stock—Credit Rating of our Series A Preferred Stock”. Commencing on June 27, 2023, we may redeem, at our option, the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at a cash redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the redemption date. Prior to June 27, 2023, upon a Change of Control, as defined in this prospectus, we may redeem, at our option, the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or part, at a cash redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including the redemption date. The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity, will not be subject to any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption, and will not be convertible into or exchangeable for any of our other securities. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock generally will have no voting rights except for certain limited voting rights in circumstances where dividends payable on the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for eighteen or more consecutive or nonconsecutive monthly dividend periods. See “Description of Capital Stock – Series A Preferred Stock” for more information.

 

Covenants under our credit facility may limit our ability to declare and pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock. See “Risk Factors” for more information.

 

We will be restricted in our ability to issue or create any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends or distributions, so long as the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding, unless holders of at least 66.67% of the then outstanding Series A Preferred Stock consent to same. Subject to such limitations, our preferred stock will have such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our board of directors, without stockholder approval. We have summarized some of the general terms and provisions of the preferred stock that we may issue in “Description of Capital Stock.” A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any series of preferred stock offered from time to time and may supplement or change the terms outlined below.

 

 

Warrants

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or any other class of security offered hereby. We have summarized some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue in “Description of Warrants.” A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any warrants offered from time to time and may supplement or change the terms outlined below.

 

Debt Securities

 

We may offer any combination of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The subordinated debt securities generally will be entitled to payment only after payment of our senior debt. Senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal with all our other unsubordinated debt. We may issue the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities under separate indentures between us, as issuer, and the trustee or trustees identified in a prospectus supplement. We have summarized some of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may issue in “Description of Debt Securities.” A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any debt securities offered from time to time and may supplement or change the terms outlined below.

 

Units

 

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities offered hereby in any combination. We have summarized some of the general terms and provisions of the units that we may issue in “Description of Units.” A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any units offered from time to time and may supplement or change the terms outlined below. 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Any investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Potential investors are urged to read and consider the risks and uncertainties relating to an investment in the Company set forth under “Risk Factors” in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Potential investors also should read and consider the risks and uncertainties discussed under the item “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, and may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future and any prospectus supplement related to a particular offering. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business and results of operations. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be seriously harmed. In that event, the market price for our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Relating to COVID-19

 

Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be impacted by the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

 

The global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the various attempts to contain it have created significant volatility, uncertainty and economic disruption. In response to government mandates, health care advisories and otherwise responding to employee and vendor concerns, we have altered certain aspects of our operations. Our workforce has had to spend a significant amount of time working from home, which impacts productivity and our ability to exercise proper internal controls in our operations. All of our productions are paused, as are productions of third-parties who supply us with content. Other partners have similarly had their operations altered or temporarily suspended, including those partners that we use for our operations as well as development, production and post-production of content. To the extent the resulting economic disruption is severe, we could see some vendors go out of business, resulting in supply constraints and increased costs or delays to our productions. Such production pauses may cause us temporarily to have less new content available on our services in subsequent quarters, which could negatively impact consumer demand for and user retention to our service. Temporary production pauses or permanent shutdowns in production could result in content asset impairments or other charges and will change the timing and amount of cash outflows associated with production activity.

 

The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and the various responses to it impacts our business, operations and financial results will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict, including: the duration and scope of the pandemic; governmental, business and individuals’ actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the pandemic; the availability and cost to access the capital markets; the effect on our customers and customer demand for our services; disruptions or restrictions on our employees’ ability to work and travel; interruptions or restrictions related to the provision of streaming services over the internet, including impacts on content delivery networks and streaming quality; and any stoppages, disruptions or increased costs associated with our development, production, post-production, marketing and distribution of original programming. Furthermore, given increased government expenditures associated with their COVID-19 response, we could see increased government obligations which could negatively impact our results of operations. If we need to access the capital markets, there can be no assurance that financing may be available on attractive terms, if at all. We will continue to actively monitor the issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and may take further actions that alter our business operations, including content production, as may be required by federal, state, local or foreign authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners and stockholders. It is not clear what the potential effects any such alterations or modifications may have on our business, including the effects on our customers, suppliers or vendors, or on our financial results.

 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to an increase in our user additions relative to our quarterly forecast and historic trends. These results, as well as those of other metrics such as revenues, operating margins, net income and other financial and operating data, may not be indicative of results for future periods. Our increase in user additions may reflect the acceleration of growth that we would have seen in subsequent periods, and user growth may slow or reverse, due to slower acquisition and/or higher cancellations, as government and other restrictions are relaxed. In addition to the potential direct impacts to our business, the global economy is likely to be significantly weakened as a result of the actions taken in response to COVID-19. To the extent that such a weakened global economy impacts advertisers’ ability or willingness to pay for advertisements on our service or vendors’ ability to provide services to us, we could see our business and results of operations negatively impacted. In addition, a weakened global economy could impact our ability to collect our outstanding accounts receivable which would have a negative impact on our results of operations.

 

 

NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The statements contained in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “continues,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about our:

 

·

core strategy;

 

·

operating income and margin;

 

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seasonality;

 

·

liquidity, including cash flows from operations, available funds and access to financing sources;

 

·

free cash flows;

 

·

revenues;

 

·

net income;

 

·

profitability;

 

·

inability to pay dividends if we fall out of compliance with our loan covenants in the future and then are prohibited by our bank lender from paying dividends;

  

·

user growth and the ability of our content offerings to achieve market acceptance;

 

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partnerships;

 

·

user viewing patterns;

 

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success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors;

 

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potential ability to obtain additional financing when and if needed, including use of the debt markets;

 

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ability to protect our intellectual property;

 

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ability to complete strategic acquisitions;

 

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ability to manage growth and integrate acquired operations;

 

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stock price volatility, potential liquidity and trading of our securities;

 

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future regulatory changes;

 

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pricing changes;

 

·

actions by competitors;

 

·

content and marketing investments, including investments in original programming;

 

 

·

downward revisions to, or withdrawals of, our credit ratings by third-party rating agencies;

 

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estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and

 

·

the time during which we will be an Emerging Growth Company (“EGC”) under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or JOBS Act.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors incorporated by reference or described in “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereby will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes including mergers and acquisitions, debt repayments, dividends, and share repurchases. Pending the application of such proceeds, we expect to invest the proceeds in short-term, interest bearing, investment-grade marketable securities or money market obligations.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Introduction

 

In the discussion that follows, we have summarized selected provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law, or “DGCL,” relating to our capital stock. This summary is not complete. This discussion is subject to the relevant provisions of Delaware law and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws. You should read the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws as currently in effect for provisions that may be important to you.

 

General

 

We are authorized to issue 70 million shares of Class A Common Stock, 20 million shares of Class B Common Stock, and 10 million shares of preferred stock, of which 4,300,000 shares has been designated Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock were each approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbols “CSSE” and “CSSEP”, respectively.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, 4,193,490 shares of our Class A Common Stock are outstanding, 7,813,938 shares of our Class B Common Stock are outstanding and 1,599,002 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding. We also have outstanding Class W warrants to purchase an aggregate of 678,822 shares of our Class A Common Stock and Class Z warrants to purchase an aggregate of 130,618 share of our Class A Common Stock, and we issued warrants to CPEH to purchase an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

Common Stock

 

Voting Rights

 

Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock have substantially identical rights, except that holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of shares of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of stockholders, unless otherwise required by law or our charter. See “—   Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws,” below. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the voting power voting for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.

 

Dividend Rights

 

Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be treated equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividends or distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by the board of directors out of any assets legally available therefor.

 

No Preemptive or Similar Rights

 

Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.

 

Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions

 

Subject to the preferential or other rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding, including the Series A Preferred Stock, upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to receive ratably all of our assets available for distribution to our stockholders unless disparate or different treatment of the shares of each such class with respect to distributions upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under our certificate of incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

 

 

Merger or Consolidation

 

In the case of any distribution or payment in respect of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock upon our consolidation or merger with or into any other entity, or in the case of any other transaction having an effect on stockholders substantially similar to that resulting from a consolidation or merger, such distribution or payment shall be made ratably on a per share basis among the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as a single class, provided, however, that shares of one such class may receive different or disproportionate distributions or payments in connection with such merger, consolidation or other transaction if (i) the only difference in the per share distribution to the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is that any securities distributed to the holder of a share Class B Common Stock have ten times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class A Common Stock, or (ii) such merger, consolidation or other transaction is approved by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under our Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

 

Conversion

 

The outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible at any time as follows: (a) at the option of the holder, a share of Class B Common Stock may be converted at any time into one share of Class A Common Stock or (b) upon the election of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock may be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock. Once converted into Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock will not be reissued.

 

Warrants

 

Class W and Class Z Warrants

 

Each outstanding Class W warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our Class A Common Stock at a price of $7.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below. Each Class W warrant is exercisable at any time through June 30, 2021 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

 

Each outstanding Class Z warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our Class A Common Stock at a price of $12.00 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below. Each Class Z warrant is exercisable at any time through June 30, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

 

Cancellation

 

We may call for cancellation of all or any portion of the Class W warrants or Class Z warrants for which a notice of exercise has not yet been delivered to us for consideration equal to $.01 per Class W warrant or Class Z warrant, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of such warrants, if (i) our Class A Common Stock is traded, listed or quoted on any U.S. market or electronic exchange, and (ii) the closing per-share sales price of the Class A Common Stock for any twenty (20) trading days during a consecutive thirty (30) trading days period exceeds $15.00, for Class W warrants, or $18.00, for Class Z warrants, in each case subject to adjustment for forward and reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, stock dividends and the like.

 

The right to exercise will be forfeited unless the warrants are exercised prior to the date specified in the call notice. On and after the call date, a record holder of a warrant will have no further rights except to receive the call price for such holder’s warrant upon surrender of such warrant.

 

 

The criteria for calling our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the warrant exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our call, the call will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.

 

Exercise Rights

 

Holders of the Class W warrants and Class Z warrants have cashless exercise rights that allow each holder to pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose will mean the average reported last sale price of the shares of Class A Common Stock for the ten trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise.

 

The exercise price and number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, neither the Class W warrants nor the Class Z warrants will be adjusted for issuances of shares of any equity or equity-based securities at a price below their respective exercise prices.

 

The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

 

No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Class W warrants or Class Z warrants. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round up to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the warrant holder.

 

Crackle Plus Warrants

 

As partial consideration for certain assets contributed to Crackle Plus, we issued warrants to purchase (a) 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $8.13 per share (“Class I Warrants”), (b) 1,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $9.67 per share (“Class II Warrants”), (c) 380,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.61 per share (“Class III-A Warrants”), and (d) 1,620,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.61 per share (“Class III-B Warrants”), which we collectively refer to as the “Crackle Plus Warrants”. Each Crackle Plus Warrant is exercisable for shares of our Class A Common Stock for a five-year term that commenced on May 19, 2019.

 

Exercise Rights

 

The exercise price and number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of the Crackle Plus Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the Crackle Plus Warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of any equity or equity-based securities at a price below their respective exercise prices.

 

The Crackle Plus Warrants have cashless exercise rights that allow each holder to pay the exercise price by surrendering warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying such warrants multiplied by the “fair market value” less (y) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying such warrants multiplied by the exercise price then in effect, by (ii) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose means the closing sale price or bid price of the Class A Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of exercise, if the Class A Common Stock is listed or quoted on a national securities exchange or the fair market value per share as determined by an independent appraiser, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or quoted on a national securities exchange.

 

 

The holders of our Crackle Plus Warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and any voting rights until they exercise the warrants and receive shares of Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

 

No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Crackle Plus Warrants. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round up or down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the warrant holder.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders, provided that the designation of preferred stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up will require approval of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, as described below in “Series A Preferred Stock - Voting Rights.”. Our board of directors can also increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock or other series of preferred stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible financings, acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control of the Company and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. As of the date of this prospectus, we have authorized one series of preferred stock, the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the preferred stock that we may issue. A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any preferred stock offered from time to time, and may supplement or change the terms outlined below. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of the certificate of designations that sets forth the terms of the particular preferred stock we are offering. The summary of such terms contained in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such form of certificate of designations. We urge you to read the form of certificate of designations and the additional description of the terms of the preferred stock included in the prospectus supplement.

 

If we offer a series of preferred stock, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a prospectus supplement, including:

 

	●	the title of the series of preferred stock and the number of shares offered;
	●	the price at which the preferred stock will be issued;

 

 

	●	the dividend rate, if any, the dates on which the dividends will be payable and other terms relating to the payment of dividends on the preferred stock;
	●	the voting rights of the preferred stock;
	●	whether the preferred stock is redeemable or subject to a sinking fund, and the terms of any such redemption or sinking fund;
	●	whether the preferred stock is convertible into any other securities, and the terms and conditions of any such conversion;
	●	the liquidation preference of the preferred stock; and
	●	any additional rights, preferences and limitations of the preferred stock.

 

When the consideration for which the board of directors authorized the issuance of shares is received, the shares of preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Series A Preferred Stock

 

On June 26, 2018, we filed a Certificate of Designation, Rights and Preferences of our Series A Preferred Stock, or the “Series A Certificate of Designation,” with the Delaware Secretary of State. We amended the Series A Certificate of Designation on August 22, 2018, November 14, 2018, and July 31, 2019 in order to designate additional shares of preferred stock as Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Certificate of Designation, as amended, fixes the rights, preferences, powers, restrictions and limitations of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

The description of certain terms of the Series A Preferred Stock in this prospectus does not purport to be complete and is in all respects subject to, and qualified in its entirety by references to the relevant provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Series A Certificate of Designation, as amended, our bylaws and the DGCL. Copies of our certificate of incorporation, certificate of designations, bylaws and all amendments thereto, are available from us upon request.

 

No Maturity, Sinking Fund or Mandatory Redemption

 

The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless we decide to redeem or otherwise repurchase them. We are not required to set aside funds to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Ranking

 

The Series A Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up:

 

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senior to all classes or series of our common stock and to all other equity securities issued by us other than equity securities referred to in the next two bullet points below;

 

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on a parity with all equity securities issued by us with terms specifically providing that those equity securities rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

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junior to all equity securities issued by us with terms specifically providing for ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up (please see the section entitled “Voting Rights” below); and

 

 

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effectively junior to all our existing and future indebtedness (including indebtedness convertible to our common stock or preferred stock) and to any indebtedness and other liabilities of (as well as any preferred equity interests held by others in) our existing subsidiaries.

 

Dividends

 

Holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds of the Company legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 9.75% of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference per annum (equivalent to $2.4375 per annum per share). Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall be payable monthly on the 15th day of each month; provided that if any dividend payment date is not a business day, as defined in the certificate of designations, then the dividend that would otherwise have been payable on that dividend payment date may be paid on the next succeeding business day and no interest, additional dividends or other sums will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that dividend payment date to that next succeeding business day. Any dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock, including dividends payable for any partial dividend period, will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months; however, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock offered hereby will be credited as having accrued dividends since the first day of the calendar month in which they are issued. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in our stock records for the Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the last day of the calendar month, whether or not a business day, immediately preceding the month in which the applicable dividend payment date falls. As a result, holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not be entitled to receive dividends on a dividend payment date if such shares were not issued and outstanding on the applicable dividend record date.

 

No dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be authorized by our board of directors or paid or set apart for payment by us at any time when the terms and provisions of any agreement of ours, including any agreement relating to our indebtedness, prohibit the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment thereof or provide that the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment thereof would constitute a breach of the agreement or a default under the agreement, or if the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accrue whether or not we have earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of those dividends and whether or not those dividends are declared by our board of directors. No interest, or sum in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A Preferred Stock that may be in arrears, and holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any dividends in excess of full cumulative dividends described above. Any dividend payment made on the Series A Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliest accumulated but unpaid dividend due with respect to those shares.

 

Future distributions on our common stock and preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash flow from operations, financial condition and capital requirements, any debt service requirements and any other factors our board of directors deems relevant. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to make cash distributions on our preferred stock or what the actual distributions will be for any future period.

 

 

Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been or contemporaneously is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, no dividends (other than in shares of common stock or in shares of any series of preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment upon shares of our common stock or preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to, or on a parity with, the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Nor shall any other distribution be declared or made upon shares of our common stock or preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to, or on a parity with, the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Also, any shares of our common stock or preferred stock that we may issue ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up shall not be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by us (except by conversion into or exchange for our other capital stock that we may issue ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up).

 

When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of any other series of preferred stock that we may issue ranking on a parity as to the payment of dividends with the Series A Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series A Preferred Stock and any other series of preferred stock that we may issue ranking on a parity as to the payment of dividends with the Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series A Preferred Stock and such other series of preferred stock that we may issue shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the Series A Preferred Stock and such other series of preferred stock that we may issue (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A Preferred Stock that may be in arrears.

 

Liquidation Preference

 

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of the assets we have legally available for distribution to our shareholders, subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of our capital stock we may issue ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date of payment, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock we may issue that ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.

 

In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of our capital stock that we may issue ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and all other such classes or series of capital stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

 

We will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide written notice of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up no fewer than 10 days prior to the payment date. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. The consolidation or merger of us with or into any other corporation, trust or entity or of any other entity with or into us, or the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business, shall not be deemed a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us (although such events may give rise to the special optional redemption to the extent described below).

 

 

Redemption

 

The Series A Preferred Stock is not redeemable by us prior to June 27, 2023, except as described below under “—Special Optional Redemption.”

 

Optional Redemption. On and after June 27, 2023, we may, at our option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption.

 

Special Optional Redemption. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, we may, at our option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the redemption date.

 

A “Change of Control” is deemed to occur when the following have occurred and are continuing:

 

·

the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (other than Mr. Rouhana, the chairman of our board of directors, our chief executive officer and our principal stockholder, any member of his immediate family, and any “person” or “group” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, that is controlled by Mr. Rouhana or any member of his immediate family, any beneficiary of the estate of Mr. Rouhana, or any trust, partnership, corporate or other entity controlled by any of the foregoing), of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of our stock entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of our directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

 

·

following the closing of any transaction referred to above, neither we nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or American Depositary Receipts representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE American, or Nasdaq, or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE American, or Nasdaq.

 

Redemption Procedures. In the event we elect to redeem Series A Preferred Stock, the notice of redemption will be mailed to each holder of record of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption at such holder’s address as it appears on our stock transfer records, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, and will state the following:

 

·

the redemption date;

 

·

the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed;

 

·

the redemption price;

 

·

the place or places where certificates (if any) for the Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price;

 

·

that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on the redemption date;

 

 

·

whether such redemption is being made pursuant to the provisions described above under “—Optional Redemption” or “—Special Optional Redemption”; and

 

·

if applicable, that such redemption is being made in connection with a Change of Control and, in that case, a brief description of the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control.

 

If less than all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed. No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

 

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the Series A Preferred Stock at the place designated in the notice of redemption and shall be entitled to the redemption price and any accumulated and unpaid dividends payable upon the redemption following the surrender. If notice of redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock has been given and if we have irrevocably set aside the funds necessary for redemption in trust for the benefit of the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date (unless default shall be made by us in providing for the payment of the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any), dividends will cease to accrue on those shares of Series A Preferred Stock, those shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of those shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption. If any redemption date is not a business day, then the redemption price and accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption may be paid on the next business day and no interest, additional dividends or other sums will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after that redemption date to that next business day. If less than all of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by any other equitable method we determine.

 

In connection with any redemption of Series A Preferred Stock, we shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date, unless a redemption date falls after a dividend record date and prior to the corresponding dividend payment date, in which case each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on such dividend record date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding dividend payment date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before such dividend payment date. Except as provided above, we will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed.

 

No shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid and all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed. We shall not otherwise purchase or acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series A Preferred Stock (except by exchanging it for our capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition by us of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Subject to applicable law, we may purchase shares of Series A Preferred Stock in the open market, by tender or by private agreement. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock that we acquire may be retired and reclassified as authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, without designation as to class or series, and may thereafter be reissued as any class or series of preferred stock.

 

 

Voting Rights

 

Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights, except as set forth below or as otherwise required by law.

 

On each matter on which holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote. In instances described below where holders of Series A Preferred Stock vote with holders of any other class or series of our preferred stock as a single class on any matter, the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of each such other class or series will have one vote for each $25.00 of liquidation preference (excluding accumulated dividends) represented by their respective shares.

 

Whenever dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for eighteen or more monthly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be automatically increased by two (if not already increased by two by reason of the election of directors by the holders of any other class or series of our preferred stock we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and with which the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to vote as a class with respect to the election of those two directors) and the holders of Series A Preferred Stock (voting separately as a class with all other classes or series of preferred stock we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of those two directors) will be entitled to vote for the election of those two additional directors (the “preferred stock directors”) at a special meeting called by us at the request of the holders of record of at least 25% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or by the holders of any other class or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of those two preferred stock directors (unless the request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of shareholders, in which case, such vote will be held at the earlier of the next annual or special meeting of shareholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting until all dividends accumulated on the Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment. In that case, the right of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to elect any directors will cease and, unless there are other classes or series of our preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, any preferred stock directors elected by holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall immediately resign and the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall be reduced accordingly. In no event shall the holders of Series A Preferred Stock be entitled under these voting rights to elect a preferred stock director that would cause us to fail to satisfy a requirement relating to director independence of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which any class or series of our capital stock is listed or quoted. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the total number of preferred stock directors elected by holders of the Series A Preferred Stock (voting separately as a class with all other classes or series of preferred stock we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of such directors) under these voting rights exceed two. Any person nominated to serve as a director of the Company under the foregoing terms shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

If a special meeting is not called by us within 30 days after request from the holders of Series A Preferred Stock as described above, then the holders of record of at least 25% of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock may designate a holder to call the meeting at our expense.

 

If, at any time when the voting rights conferred upon the Series A Preferred Stock are exercisable, any vacancy in the office of a preferred stock director shall occur, then such vacancy may be filled only by a written consent of the remaining preferred stock director, or if none remains in office, by vote of the holders of record of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of the preferred stock directors. Any preferred stock director elected or appointed may be removed only by the affirmative vote of holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which classes or series of preferred stock are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of the preferred stock directors, such removal to be effected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any such other classes or series of preferred stock, and may not be removed by the holders of the common stock.

 

 

So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66.67% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting together as a class with all other series of parity preferred stock that we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable), (a) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify any of our authorized capital stock into such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or (b) unless redeeming all Series A Preferred Stock in connection with such action, amend, alter, repeal or replace our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including by way of a merger, consolidation or otherwise in which we may or may not be the surviving entity, so as to materially and adversely affect and deprive holders of Series A Preferred Stock of any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock (each, an “Event”). An increase in the amount of the authorized preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, or the creation or issuance of any additional Series A Preferred Stock or other series of preferred stock that we may issue, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such series, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed an Event and will not require us to obtain 66.67% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and all such other similarly affected series, outstanding at the time (voting together as a class).

 

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be affected, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to affect such redemption.

 

Except as expressly stated in the certificate of designations or as may be required by applicable law, the Series A Preferred Stock do not have any relative, participating, optional or other special voting rights or powers and the consent of the holders thereof shall not be required for the taking of any corporate action.

 

Information Rights

 

During any period in which we are not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, we will use our best efforts to (i) make available on our corporate investor webpage, copies of the Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q that we would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if we were subject thereto (other than any exhibits that would have been required) and (ii) promptly, upon request, supply copies of such reports to any holders of Series A Preferred Stock. We will use our best effort to provide the information to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock within 15 days after the respective dates by which a periodic report on Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as the case may be, in respect of such information would have been required to be filed with the SEC, if we were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in each case, based on the dates on which we would be required to file such periodic reports if we were a “non-accelerated filer” within the meaning of the Exchange Act.

 

 

No Conversion Rights

 

The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into our common stock or any other security.

 

No Preemptive Rights

 

No holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will, as holders of Series A Preferred Stock, have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for our common stock or any other security.

 

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws

 

Special Meeting of Stockholders

 

Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our board of directors, or by our chairman and chief executive officer or by our secretary at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority of the voting power of our issued and outstanding capital stock.

 

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

 

Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice will need to be delivered to our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 60^th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90^th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual meeting of stockholders. In the event that less than 70 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting of stockholders is given, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if delivered to our principal executive offices not later than the 10^th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of our annual meeting of stockholders is first made or sent by us. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Dual Voting Structure

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides for two classes of common stock. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock have substantially identical rights, except that holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of shares of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of stockholders, unless otherwise required by law. Accordingly, the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock will exert significant control over our actions.

 

Removal and Appointment of Directors

 

Our entire board of directors or any individual director may be removed from office with or without cause by a majority vote of the holders of the voting power of outstanding voting power of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. In such case, new directors may be elected by the stockholders then holding a majority of our voting power. Immediately following this offering, our chairman and chief executive officer shall control the substantial majority of our voting power and therefore will be able to unilaterally exercise the foregoing rights.

 

Class B Approval Required for Charter Amendments

 

Any amendment to our certificate of incorporation requires the approval of the majority of the outstanding Class B Common Stock. This approval requirement is separate and in addition to any general stockholder approval that would be required under our certificate of incorporation and law.

 

 

Exclusive Forum Selection

 

Article Twelve of our certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or its stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or our charter documents, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware, or if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. While this provision is intended to include all actions, excluding any arising under the Securities Act of 1933, the Exchange Act of 1934 and any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision.

 

Limitation on Directors’ Liability and Indemnification

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that no director of ours will be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages arising from the director’s breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, this does not apply with respect to any action in which the director would be liable under Section 174 of the DGCL nor does it apply with respect to any liability in which the director (i) breached his duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders; (ii) did not act in good faith or, in failing to act, did not act in good faith; (iii) acted in a manner involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or, in failing to act, shall have acted in a manner involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or (iv) derived an improper personal benefit. This provision could have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and may discourage or deter our stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited us and our stockholders.

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that all directors and officers shall be entitled to be indemnified by such company to the fullest extent permitted by law. The certificate of incorporation provides that we may indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law all employees. Our bylaws provide that, if authorized by our board of directors, we may indemnify any other person whom it has the power to indemnify under section 145 of the DGCL. We have entered, and intend to continue to enter, into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or person controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

Provisions of the DGCL and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and takeover bids that our board of directors may consider inadequate and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in improved terms for our stockholders.

 

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute.

 

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover statute. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination or the acquisition of shares that resulted in a stockholder becoming an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own) 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The existence of this provision would be expected to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.

 

Amendments to Our Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Under the DGCL, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon and a majority of the outstanding stock of each class entitled to vote thereon is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Under the DGCL, the holders of the outstanding shares of a class of our capital stock shall be entitled to vote as a class upon a proposed amendment, whether or not entitled to vote thereon by the certificate of incorporation, if the amendment would:

 

·

increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of such class;

 

·

increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class; or

 

·

alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of such class so as to affect them adversely.

 

If any proposed amendment would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of one or more series of any class of our capital stock so as to affect them adversely, but shall not so affect the entire class, then only the shares of the series so affected by the amendment shall be considered a separate class for the purposes of this provision.

 

Listing

 

Our Class A Common Stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CSSE” and our Series A Preferred Stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CSSEP.” On May 15, 2020, the last reported sale prices of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock were $7.25 and $21.75, respectively. As of the date of this prospectus, none of the other securities that we may offer by this prospectus are listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The transfer agent and registrar for any other series of preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent for any registered class of warrants, if any, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or any other security offered hereby. Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. We may issue the warrants directly or under warrant agreements to be entered into between a warrant agent and us. Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

 

The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue. A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any warrants offered from time to time and may supplement or change the terms outlined below. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of the warrant or form of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate that sets forth the terms of the particular warrants we are offering. The summary of such terms contained in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such warrant or warrant agreement and warrant certificate. We urge you to read the warrant or warrant agreement and warrant certificate and the additional description of the terms of the warrants included in the prospectus supplement.

 

General

 

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:

 

·

the title of the warrants;

 

·

the offering price for the warrants, if any;

 

·

the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

·

the designation and terms of the common stock, preferred stock or other class of security that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

 

·

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security;

 

·

if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;

 

·

the number of shares and price of common stock or preferred stock, or the designation and number or amount of other debt securities, that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant;

 

·

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commence and expire;

 

·

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

·

if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

 

·

anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

·

redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; and

 

·

any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

 

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder of the warrant to purchase at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the principal amount of debt securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock being offered. Holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will be void. Holders may exercise warrants as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered.

 

Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase any securities underlying the warrants, the holder will not have any rights as a holder of the underlying securities by virtue of ownership of warrants.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may offer any combination of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We may issue the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities under separate indentures between us, as issuer, and the trustee or trustees identified in a prospectus supplement. Further information regarding the trustee may be provided in the prospectus supplement. The form for each type of indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may issue. A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any debt securities offered from time to time and may supplement or change the terms outlined below. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of the indenture supplement that sets forth the terms of the particular debt securities we are offering. The summary of such debt securities contained in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the indentures and the applicable indenture supplement. We urge you to read the indentures, the applicable indenture supplement and the additional description of the debt securities in the prospectus supplement.

 

General

 

Within the total dollar amount of this shelf registration statement, we may issue an unlimited principal amount of debt securities in separate series. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. The debt securities will have terms that are consistent with the indentures. Senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal with all our other unsubordinated debt. Subordinated debt securities will be paid only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness, including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been made.

 

The indentures might not limit the amount of other debt that we may incur or whether that debt is senior to the debt securities offered by this prospectus and might not contain financial or similar restrictive covenants. The indentures might not contain any provision to protect holders of debt securities against a sudden or dramatic decline in our ability to pay our debt.

 

The prospectus supplement will describe the debt securities and the price or prices at which we will offer the debt securities. The description will include:

 

·

the title and form of the debt securities;

 

·

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities or the series of which they are a part;

 

·

the date or dates on which we must repay the principal, the maturity date and the principal amount due at maturity and whether the securities will be offered at a price such that they will be deemed an “original issue discount”;

 

·

the person to whom any interest on a debt security of the series will be paid;

 

 

·

the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest;

 

·

if any, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, and the dates on which we must pay interest;

 

·

the place or places where we must pay the principal and any premium or interest on the debt securities;

 

·

the terms and conditions on which we may redeem any debt security, if at all;

 

·

any obligation to redeem or purchase any debt securities, and the terms and conditions on which we must do so;

 

·

the denominations in which we may issue the debt securities;

 

·

the currency in which we will pay the principal of and any premium or interest on the debt securities and whether we may pay in property other than cash, including our securities;

 

·

the principal amount of the debt securities that we will pay upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity;

 

·

whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;

 

·

if applicable, that the debt securities are defeasible and the terms of such defeasance;

 

·

if applicable, the terms of any right to convert debt securities into, or exchange debt securities for, debt securities, preferred stock and common stock or other securities or property;

 

·

whether we will issue the debt securities in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the respective depositaries for the global securities and the terms of the global securities;

 

·

the subordination provisions that will apply to any subordinated debt securities;

 

·

any addition to or change in the events of default applicable to the debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount of any of the debt securities due and payable;

 

·

any addition to or change in the covenants in the indentures; and

 

·

any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the applicable indentures.

 

We may sell the debt securities at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, applicable to debt securities sold at an original issue discount in the prospectus supplement. An “original issue discount security” is any debt security sold for less than its face value, and which provides that the holder cannot receive the full face-value if maturity is accelerated. The prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities will describe the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity upon the occurrence of an event of default. In addition, we will describe U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or unit other than U.S. dollars in the prospectus supplement.

 

Conversion and Exchange Rights

 

The prospectus supplement will describe, if applicable, the terms on which you may convert debt securities into or exchange them for debt securities, preferred stock and common stock or other securities or property. The conversion or exchange may be mandatory or may be at our option or at your option. The prospectus supplement will describe how the amount of debt securities, number of shares of preferred stock and common stock or other securities or property to be received upon conversion or exchange would be calculated.

 

 

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

The indebtedness underlying any subordinated debt securities will be payable only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness, as defined in the applicable indenture and any indenture supplement, including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been made. If we distribute our assets to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceedings, we must first pay all amounts due or to become due on all senior indebtedness before we pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, the subordinated debt securities. In the event the subordinated debt securities are accelerated because of an event of default, we may not make any payment on the subordinated debt securities until we have paid all senior indebtedness or the acceleration is rescinded. If the payment of subordinated debt securities accelerates because of an event of default, we must promptly notify holders of senior indebtedness of the acceleration.

 

If we experience a bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. The indenture for subordinated debt securities may not limit our ability to incur additional senior indebtedness.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

We will issue debt securities only in fully registered form, without coupons, and only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise. The holder of a debt security may elect, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities, to exchange them for other debt securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of similar terms and aggregate principal amount.

 

Holders of debt securities may present them for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer duly executed, at the office of the transfer agent we designate for that purpose. We will not impose a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require a payment sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange. We will name the transfer agent in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, but we must maintain a transfer agent in each place where we will make payment on debt securities.

 

If we redeem the debt securities, we will not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security during a specified period prior to mailing a notice of redemption. We are not required to register the transfer or exchange of any debt security selected for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of the debt security being redeemed.

 

Global Securities

 

The debt securities may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of all debt securities of that series. Each global security will be registered in the name of a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. We will deposit the global security with the depositary or a custodian, and the global security will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer.

 

No global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and no transfer of a global security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the depositary or any nominee or successor of the depositary unless:

 

·

the depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary; or

 

 

·

the depositary is no longer in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or “Exchange Act,” or other applicable statute or regulation.

 

The depositary will determine how all securities issued in exchange for a global security will be registered.

 

As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security, we will consider the depositary or the nominee to be the sole owner and holder of the global security and the underlying debt securities. Except as stated above, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the global security or any debt security registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of certificated debt securities and will not be considered to be the owners or holders of the global security or underlying debt securities. We will make all payments of principal, premium and interest on a global security to the depositary or its nominee. The laws of some jurisdictions require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may prevent you from transferring your beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Only institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee and persons that hold beneficial interests through the depositary or its nominee may own beneficial interests in a global security. The depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or any such participant.

 

The policies and procedures of the depositary may govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security. We and the trustee will assume no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

We will pay principal and any premium or interest on a debt security to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest.

 

We will pay principal and any premium or interest on the debt securities at the office of our designated paying agent. Unless the prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the corporate trust office of the trustee will be the paying agent for the debt securities.

 

Any other paying agents we designate for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional paying agents, rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, but we must maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities.

 

The paying agent will return to us all money we pay to it for the payment of the principal, premium or interest on any debt security that remains unclaimed for a specified period. Thereafter, the holder may look only to us for payment, as an unsecured general creditor.

 

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

 

Under the terms of the indentures, so long as any securities remain outstanding, we may not consolidate or enter into a share exchange with or merge into any other person, in a transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation, or sell, convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

 

·

the successor assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indentures; and

 

·

we meet the other conditions described in the indentures.

 

 

Events of Default

 

Each of the following will constitute an event of default under each indenture:

 

·

failure to pay any interest on any debt security when due, for more than a specified number of days past the due date;

 

·

failure to pay any principal or deposit any sinking fund payment when due;

 

·

failure to perform any covenant or agreement in the indenture that continues for a specified number of days after written notice has been given by the trustee or the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series;

 

·

events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

·

any other event of default specified in the prospectus supplement.

 

If an event of default occurs and continues, both the trustee and holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived.

  

Except for its duties in case of an event of default, the trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this indemnification and subject to conditions specified in the applicable indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

 

No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any proceeding with respect to the indentures, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy, unless:

 

·

the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

 

·

the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series have made a written request upon the trustee, and have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee, to institute the proceeding;

 

·

the trustee has failed to institute the proceeding for a specified period of time after its receipt of the notification; and

 

·

the trustee has not received a direction inconsistent with the request within a specified number of days from the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series.

 

Modification and Waiver

 

We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters, including:

 

·

to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; and

 

·

to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series.

 

 

In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of notes may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, we and the trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of the holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

·

extending the fixed maturity of the series of notes;

 

·

reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or any premium payable upon the redemption, of any debt securities; or

 

·

reducing the percentage of debt securities the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest on any debt security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be amended without each holder’s consent.

 

Except in limited circumstances, we may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the indentures. In limited circumstances, the trustee may set a record date. To be effective, the action must be taken by holders of the requisite principal amount of such debt securities within a specified period following the record date.

 

Defeasance

 

To the extent stated in the prospectus supplement, we may elect to apply the provisions in the indentures relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, or to defeasance of restrictive covenants, to the debt securities of any series. The indentures provide that, upon satisfaction of the requirements described below, we may terminate all of our obligations under the debt securities of any series and the applicable indenture, known as legal defeasance, other than our obligation:

 

·

to maintain a registrar and paying agents and hold monies for payment in trust;

 

·

to register the transfer or exchange of the notes; and

 

·

to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes.

 

In addition, we may terminate our obligation to comply with any restrictive covenants under the debt securities of any series or the applicable indenture, known as covenant defeasance.

 

We may exercise our legal defeasance option even if we have previously exercised our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise either defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be accelerated because of the occurrence of events of default.

 

To exercise either defeasance option as to debt securities of any series, we must irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee money and/or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States that will provide money in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the debt securities. We may only establish this trust if, among other things:

 

·

no event of default shall have occurred or be continuing;

 

·

in the case of legal defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or there has been a change in law, which in the opinion of our counsel, provides that holders of the debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

 

·

in the case of covenant defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred; and

 

·

we satisfy other customary conditions precedent described in the applicable indenture.

 

Notices

 

We will mail notices to holders of debt securities as indicated in the prospectus supplement.

 

Title

 

We may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered as the absolute owner, whether or not such debt security may be overdue, for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.

 

Governing Law

 

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITS

 

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities offered hereby in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.

 

The units may be, but are not required to be, issued under unit agreements to be entered into between us and a unit agent, as detailed in the prospectus supplement relating to the units being offered. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of the unit agreement and unit certificate, if any, that sets forth the terms of the particular units we are offering. The summary of such terms contained in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such unit agreement and unit certificate. We urge you to read the unit agreement and unit certificate, if any, and the additional description of the terms of the units included in the prospectus supplement.

 

The prospectus supplement will describe the units and the price or prices at which we will offer the units. The description will include:

 

·

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or transferred separately;

 

·

a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;

 

·

a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units;

 

·

a discussion of material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and

 

·

whether the units if issued as a separate security will be issued in fully registered or global form.

 

The descriptions of the units in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements.

 

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are registering up to $11,564,076 of our common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants, debt securities and/or units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities offered hereby. We may sell or issue the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in any one or more of the following ways:

 

·

through underwriters or dealers;

 

·

through agents;

 

·

directly to purchasers or a single purchaser; or

 

·

through a combination of any of these methods.

 

The manner in which we may sell some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus includes, without limitation, through:

 

·

a rights offering;

 

·

exercises of warrants or other rights;

 

·

an “at the market” offering, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act,” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;

 

·

a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;

 

·

purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

·

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; and

 

·

privately negotiated transactions.

 

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

·

at a fixed price, or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

 

·

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

·

at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or

 

·

at negotiated prices.

 

For each offering of securities hereunder, we will describe the method of distribution of such securities, among other things, in a prospectus supplement. A prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

·

the name or names of any agents or underwriters;

 

·

the purchase price of the securities being offered and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

 

·

any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;

 

·

any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;

 

·

any initial public offering price;

 

·

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

·

any securities exchanges or markets on which such securities may be listed.

 

 

Sales Through Underwriters or Dealers

 

If underwriters are used in the sale of the securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate whether a sale is made on a firm commitment or best efforts basis or otherwise. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. We may negotiate and pay dealers’ commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of our securities so offered and sold.

 

Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents

 

We may sell the securities directly, in which case no underwriters or agents would be involved, or we may sell the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. If agents are used in the sale of the securities, the agent will not purchase any securities for its own account, but will arrange for the sale of the securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. We may negotiate and pay agent’s fees or commissions for their services. If the securities are sold directly by us, we may sell the securities to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, with respect to any sale of those securities.

 

Delayed Delivery Contracts

 

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by institutional investors, such as commercial banks and investment companies, to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The conditions to these contracts and the commissions payable for solicitation of the contracts will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

At-the-Market Offerings

 

Underwriters, dealers or agents could make sales in an “at-the-market” offering, directly on the Nasdaq Global Market, the existing trading market for our common stock, or such other exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities trade, or to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

 

Rights Offerings

 

We may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. If we offer securities in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with dealers, acting as standby underwriters. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the securities they commit to purchase on a standby basis. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting arrangement, we may retain a dealer-manager to manage a subscription rights offering for us.

 

Compensation

 

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, all discounts, commissions or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

Indemnification

 

Any underwriters and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect of their liabilities.

 

Stabilization Activities

 

During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include over allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, these activities may be discontinued at any time.

 

Passive Market Making

 

Any underwriters who are qualified market makers may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M.

 

Trading Markets

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, securities offered under this prospectus will be a new issue and, other than the Class A Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, which are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbols “CSSE” and “CSSEP”, respectively, will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on an exchange, and in the case of the Class A Common Stock, on any additional exchange, but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall not be obligated to do so. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or a foreign securities exchange. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

 

Other Matters

 

Any underwriters, dealers and agents, and their associates and affiliates may be customers of, have borrowing relationships with, engage in other transactions with, or perform services, including investment banking services, for us or one or more of our respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

We will bear all costs, expenses and fees associated with the registration of the securities offered.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The legality of the securities offered will be passed on for us by our counsel, Graubard Miller, New York, New York.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in reliance upon the report of Rosenfield and Company, PLLC, independent registered public accounting firm, which is also incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The audited historical financial statements of Crackle U.S. (a business of Sony Pictures Entertainment) included in Exhibit 99.1 to the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated July 30, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the offering of these securities. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement from the SEC at the web address listed above.

 

The registration statement and our SEC filings, including the documents referred to below under “Information Incorporated by Reference,” are also available on our website, www.cssentertainment.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below, all filings we make under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, and all filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after effectiveness of such registration statement and prior to the sale of all of the shares offered hereby:

 

·

our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020;

   

·

our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2020;

  

·

our current reports on Form 8-K, or 8K/A, as applicable, filed with the SEC on each of May 15, 2019, July 30, 2019, February 14, 2020, February 27, 2020, March 12, 2020, March 20, 2020, April 1, 2020, April 17, 2020, and May 15, 2020;

 

·

our proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020;

 

·

our registration statement on Form 8-A effective on August 17, 2017, registering our Class A Common Stock under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act; and

 

·

our registration statement on Form 8-A effective on June 26, 2018, registering our Series A Preferred Stock under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

Any statement contained in a document filed before the date of this prospectus and incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. Any information that we file after the date of this prospectus with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not incorporating any document or portion thereof or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rule.

 

We will provide you with a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, without charge, upon written or oral request directed to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. 132 E. Putnam Ave., Floor 2W, Cos Cob, Connecticut 06807, telephone number (855) 398-0443. You may also access the documents incorporated by reference as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

 

 

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.

Up to $11,564,076 of Class A Common Stock and

9.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock

 

 

B Riley FBR

 

June 4, 2020