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I don't see any messages for me on Schwab on their website and I have not received any emails on any changes (I went paperless).
I trade through Schwab and haven't seen any notice. But, I believe TD Ameritrade is owned by Schwab. Maybe I just haven't gotten a notice, yet.
Netflix Plans to Offer Video Games in Push Beyond Films, TV
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-14/netflix-plans-to-offer-video-games-in-expansion-beyond-films-tv
Nothing about IPLY.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/14/netflix-hires-facebook-gaming-executive-mike-verdu.html
The Bloomberg website's video stopped playing for me.
From May 21, 2021
Now Streaming On HBO Max … Adventure Time: Distant Lands – Together Again!
https://frederatorstudios.com/now-streaming-on-hbo-max-adventure-time-distant-lands-together-again/
Mattel’s ‘Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams’ Takes the Stage in September
https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/mattels-barbie-big-city-big-dreams-takes-the-stage-in-september/
Background
I only have a few theories. Most of my theories were based on WOW being acquired, not growing inorganically. Being acquired seemed like the likelier scenario, when WOW announced the strategic review. I thought the two most likely companies to acquire WOW were Netflix and Sony.
A lot of WOW series are going to Netflix and Netflix is trying to start their own animation studio, from scratch. While Netflix has not done large acquisitions, it seemed possible they could buy a small studio to jump start their efforts.
Sony, I thought, owned Powerhouse Studios. I'm not sure now. I can't find the link where I got that info. But, Sony has a deal with both Netflix and Disney +, so buying a studio supplying product to Netflix, mostly, wouldn't be a problem. Sony also had a relationship with Siebert and Frederator. Sony is also becoming a big streaming player for anime. Sony bought Funmation (and other anime streaming services around the world) and is in the process of buying Crunchyroll. Animated series have a much lower cost basis than live-action. Sony could build a large streaming platform to rival Netflix at a fraction of the cost. Most of the anime has come out of Japan, but more countries have home produced animated series. Frederator Networks claims to have 200 million subscribers, most content is adult oriented, and WOW has the license for Castlevania animated series.
If WOW were to be acquired the company would need to be valued based on the better financials (which I don't think are baked into the share price)
During the annual meeting "inorganic growth" was mentioned. I had to rework my theories to accommodate WOW growing and not being acquired.
WOW does not have much cash reserves for acquiring other companies. WOW would have to use stock to buy companies or sell stock for cash to buy other companies. WOW would still need the company to be valued.
1) I thought Sony would do an equity investment buying 15 to < 50% of WOW. It's still a potential future acquisition for Sony and Sony could work out a deal for content/services from WOW.
WOW has good working relationship with Powerhouse. All animation studios seem to be hiring,a combination of resources makes sense.
1-b) Netflix could do the equity investment, just to lock up a content source and provide a more stable content source.
2) Acquiring Kevin Kolde's Project 51 Productions studio. It's the company that got the license for Castlevania. I'm uncertain to what extent WOW has the license to Castlevania. WOW has claimed to have the license, Project 51 Productions is mentioned more than WOW when the Castlevania series is discussed.
3) Mergers/acquisitions of other Canadian animation studios. Acquiring with stock makes sense here. The companies would have an equity stake in the larger company rather than cash and becoming employees.
4) Acquiring outside of Canada. I'm thinking mostly small Asian studios. Having cash makes sense here. It would be a consolidation of small studios for content and animation worker resources (companies are hiring).
Edit
I have not looked into the possibility of toy companies Mattel or Spinmaster doing the equity investment (or acquisition). It might makes sense for these type of companies have animation studios (making content based on their toys). But, it probably looks cheaper to the toy companies to commission animated series on an individual basis. I doubt they have considered an animation production shortage as more animated series are being commissioned by the large streaming services.
Sony Interactive Entertainment Acquires Nixxes to Further Elevate PlayStation Studios Exclusive Titles
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210701005274/en/Sony-Interactive-Entertainment-Acquires-Nixxes-to-Further-Elevate-PlayStation-Studios-Exclusive-Titles
More consolidation in the video game industry.
Sony acquires Returnal developer Housemarque, hints Bluepoint is next
https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/29/22555358/sony-housemarque-returnal-developer-acquisition-bluepoint
Genius Brands Appoints Kerry Phelan as EVP & General Manager of Global Franchise Management to Drive Brand Development in the Retail Marketplace Worldwide
https://www.gnusbrands.com/news/press-releases/detail/1132/genius-brands-appoints-kerry-phelan-as-evp-general
It was pretty good. Powerhouse Animation understands how to do adult animated series. I just finished "Seis Manos", which I thought was pretty good. "Blood of Zeus" was very watchable. All are on Netflix
WOW has the license for "Castlevania", but, it was Powerhouse Animation (owned by Sony) that made the animated series, although the show-runner was WOW's Kevin Kolde.
WOW and Powerhouse will be working together on the new Castlevania series, too. The two companies seem to work well together.
CLAW Entertainment and HollyGold Productions to Co-Produce the Stan Lee-created Superhero Story “Jewel” with POW! Entertainment as a Digital Graphic Novel and Virtual-World Character
http://www.wdpp.org/press-release/claw-entertainment-and-hollygold-productions-to-co-produce-the-stan-lee-created-superhero-story-jewel-with-pow-entertainment-as-a-digital-graphic-novel-and-virtual-world-character-2-19652/
I don't see any mention of GNUS, so it might not be part of the GNUS-POW! venture.
I wouldn't hold my breath, on the company/Herve putting out any information. It's been a decade since the last filed financial report. If, Herve was trying to make a comeback for the company, one of the first things out, should have been a letter to the shareholders, stating his intentions.
Herve/IPLY did make a lot of deals in the last year or so. There does appear to be value here. But, without more company specific information it's hard to tell if or when there will be a payoff for shareholders.
IPLY has a PR firm working for them, so they appear to be doing a better job putting out information, now, than in the last decade.
You might, also, try sending Herve an email, asking if he could publish un-audited financials on the company website.
You could check with the states of California (where Interplay is located) or Delaware (where Interplay is incorporated) to see if you have on-line access to corporate tax filings. There is usually a fee to access records, if they are on-line.
On the US market, the Ask is at $0.8577 USD (about $1.06 Canadian), but the Bid is only at $0.7425 USD (about $0.92 Canadian). It's a discouragement towards trading.
Edit
I haven't seen any news that would account for a higher Ask or lower Bid than yesterday.
Update (June 30th)to the trademark lawsuit (A Parent Media Company)
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/40654246/A_Parent_Media_Co_Inc_v_Genius_Brands_International,_Inc
It's a stipulated preliminary injunction order.
‘Castlevania’ Animation Studio Powerhouse Inks First-Look Deal With Netflix
https://deadline.com/2021/06/powerhouse-animation-first-look-deal-netflix-castlevania-masters-of-the-universe-1234784152/#comments
There goes one of my working theories on the strategic review. I was thinking that Sony would do an equity investment in WOW, which included selling Powerhouse to WOW.
Music Titans Produce Kids Show for CBC Kids
A New Interactive Show for Preschoolers Called Ukulele U
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/29/2255049/0/en/Music-Titans-Produce-Kids-Show-for-CBC-Kids.html
I suspect the news we are waiting for has to do with the strategic review.
Stan Lee was taken advantage of by those closest to him | Life, Death & Money | REELZ
Mainframe Expands into 2D Series Production
WOW!’s Mainframe Studios Diversifies Storytelling Capabilities
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/24/2252945/0/en/Mainframe-Expands-into-2D-Series-Production.html
Thanks for the update. I didn't want to follow them to Discord.
Not about IPLY. Just more consolidation among gaming companies.
Electronic Arts Acquires Playdemic, Makers of the Highly Successful Golf Clash Mobile Game, From Warner Bros. Games and AT&T
https://ir.ea.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2021/Electronic-Arts-Acquires-Playdemic-Makers-of-the-Highly-Successful-Golf-Clash-Mobile-Game-From-Warner-Bros.-Games-and-ATT/default.aspx
Another minor update to the A Parent Company trademark lawsuit (June 22). Proof of service executed and new case order.
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/40654246/A_Parent_Media_Co_Inc_v_Genius_Brands_International,_Inc
New trailer (?) for the Intellivision Amico.
Earthworm Jim makes a brief appearance at the 2 minute mark (don't blink).
A Parent Company lawsuit update (June 21). It's just a motion for a Preliminary Injunction.
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/40654246/A_Parent_Media_Co_Inc_v_Genius_Brands_International,_Inc
Share price growth should be expected as a company begins to show profit. If, the stock wasn't so thinly traded, the share price probably would have gone up over the last year as the company became EBITDA positive.
I still don't see it, but, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are a lot of orders that don't show up or blink in and out. My orders, with special conditions, don't show up.
Again, that size order is so small and so far away from the trading price, I wouldn't worry about it.
Company stock. But, I think WOW would need to have the stock valued much higher than it is currently.
I'm thinking it would be WOW stock for another companies assets plus cash, for a substantial amount of WOW stock.
I don't see it. That order is bot small andso far away from where the stock is trading, I'm not sure it would make a difference if it were real or not.
Right now (subject to change without notice) I am thinking the strategic review is to value the company for the purposes of acquiring a company and getting an equity investment, using the company's stock.
I think the company is capacity limited for growth, as is. Acquiring another company is a way to grow fast. But, WOW, also needs cash reserves, it would reduce (some or all of) the short term borrowing costs, increasing the profitability of the company, with little cost.
WOW has a market cap of about $30 million (Canadian), about $25 million US. That seems really low for a company with revenue of around $60 million (Canadian). It's hard to know how to value WOW, with out guidance, valuing assets, or, how to value the Frederator Network.
If it's a merger, the other company would need large cash reserves. I don't know if any similar sized companies have large cash reserves.
"RealZ's Life, Death and Money" will be taking a look at Stan Lee:
"As the face of Marvel Comics for decades, Stan Lee was a fan favorite hero on par with the likes of Spider-Man, Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk. Behind the scenes, though, the ever-boisterous writer — who died in 2018 — had a habit of making dubious business decisions that might cause even Dr. Doom to want to lend him a helping hand. The latest installment of Reelz's Life, Death and Money series explores Lee's tumultuous final years, which were marked by disturbing accounts of elder abuse, embezzlement and an estranged relationship with his daughter, J.C. Lee. — Ethan Alter"
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/the-it-list-stan-lee-life-death-money-mary-j-blige-my-life-f9-false-positive-181145414.html
https://www.reelz.com/show/life-death-money/
Something I forgot to mention, when they talked about the strategic review "inorganic growth" was mentioned.
Inorganic growth usually means an acquisition or merger. It's something I had dismissed. WOW doesn't really have the cash to buy any other companies. And, I think, the stock isn't valued high enough.
This article mentions the Castlevania spin-off series, no date given. And, still no official press release from WOW on it either.
https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/coming-soon/netflix-original-series-coming-in-2021-and-beyond-06-2021/
I think something is up. The company seems to be in a "silent running" mode. No guidance, no analysts on the meeting conference call, no press release on the Castlevania spin-off series.
Minor update to the Class Action Lawsuit (June 16)
Continues on the motion on the motion to dismiss Complaint 74.
Court date still scheduled for 7/12/2021
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/35867262/Verdin_v_Genius_Brands_International,_Inc_et_al
6 cents on the Ask, the selling must be over, for today.
edit
lol, at the last two trades of the day.
It isn't me.
I've been hoping we would get an ETA on the PC version of Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance. Also D&D: Dark Alliance (from Torque) is due out next week (June 22), it might generate some interest in IPLY. It might be a better time to sell, although, any time the share price is up (or holds up), appears to be a good time to sell.
Here is a better website to keep track of the trademark infringement lawsuit:
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/40654246/A_Parent_Media_Co_Inc_v_Genius_Brands_International,_Inc
New lawsuit against GNUS for trademark infringement:
Kartoon Channel Said to Use Rival Kidoodle’s Name In Google Ads
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/kartoon-channel-said-to-use-rival-kidoodles-name-in-google-ads
https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/AParentMediaCoIncvGeniusBrandsInternationalIncDocketNo221cv04897C?1624016791
It was a short meeting. I had the feeling I was the only shareholder attending.
Comments made after the formal part of the meeting were :
Company is on track for another great year.
Strategic review is going well.
There were no questions.