As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 3, 2024

 

Registration No. 333-273841

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO FORM F-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

GENIUS GROUP LIMITED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Not Applicable

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

Singapore   8200 Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification number)

 

8 Amoy Street, #01-01

Singapore 049950

Tel: +65 8940 1200

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Puglisi & Associates

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, DE 19711

Tel: (302) 738-6680

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies of all communications, including communications

sent to agent for service, should be sent to:

 

Jolie Kahn, Esq.

12 E. 49th Street, 11th floor

New York, NY 10017

Tel: (516) 217-6379

Fax: (866) 705-3071

 

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

525 W. Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60661-3693

Attn: Mark D. Wood

Alyse Sagalchik

Tel: (312) 902-5200

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

    Emerging growth company
     
   

 

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

 

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION   DATED JANUARY 3, 2024

 

Series 1 Units, each consisting of One Ordinary Share

and One Series 2024 -A Warrant to Purchase One Ordinary Share and One Series 2024-C Warrant to Purchase One Ordinary Share

and

Series 2 Units, each consisting of One Pre-Funded Series 2024 -B Warrant to Purchase

One Ordinary Share and One Series 2024 -A Warrant

to Purchase One Ordinary Share and One Series 2024-C Warrant to Purchase One Ordinary Share

 

Genius Group Limited

 

We are offering for sale up to 15,673,981 Series 1 units (at an assumed offering price of $0.7018 per unit, which was the closing price of an ordinary share of the Company on December 27, 2023, which is assumed for purposes of calculations in this preliminary prospectus and is subject to final pricing upon effectiveness, and to be known as the “assumed offering price”), with each Series 1 unit consisting of one ordinary share and one Series 2024 -A warrant to purchase one ordinary share and one Series 2024-C warrant to purchase one ordinary share. Each full Series 2024 -A warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share. Each full Series 2024-C warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share. Each Series 1 unit will be sold at a fixed price of $0.7018 (at the assumed offering price) per Series 1 unit until the completion of this offering. The Series 1 units will not be issued or certificated. The ordinary shares and the Series 2024 -A warrants and Series 2024-C warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately but will be purchased together in this offering.

 

We are also offering to those purchasers, whose purchase of Series 1 units in this offering would otherwise result in the purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding ordinary shares following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase, if such purchaser so chooses, to purchase, in lieu of some or all Series 1 units, up to 15,673,981 Series 2 units. Each Series 2 unit will consist of one pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrant to purchase one ordinary share and one Series 2024 -A warrant to purchase one ordinary share and one Series 2024-C warrant to purchase one ordinary share. Each full pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share. Each Series 2 unit will be sold at a fixed price of $0.7018 per Series 2 unit minus $0.0001 (which is the per share exercise price of each pre-funded Series 2024-B warrant). For each Series 2 unit we sell, the number of Series 1 units we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis. Because we will issue one Series 2024 -A warrant and one Series 2024-C warrant as part of each Series 1 unit and Series 2 unit, the number of Series 2024 -A warrants and Series 2024-C warrants sold in this offering will not change as a result of a change in the mix of the Series 2 units and Series 1 units sold. The Series 2 units will not be issued or certificated. The pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants and the Series 2024 -A warrants and Series 2024-C warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately but will be purchased together in this offering. The ordinary shares issuable from time to time upon exercise of the Series 2024 -A warrants and the Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants are also being offered pursuant to this prospectus.

 

The Series 2024 -A warrants, with an assumed exercise price of $0.7018 per ordinary share, will be exercisable commencing on the date of issuance and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance. The Series 2024-C warrants, with an assumed exercise price of $0.7018 per ordinary share, will be exercisable commencing on the date of issuance and will expire on the 18-month anniversary of the date of issuance. The pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants will be exercisable commencing on the date of issuance and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance, with an exercise price of $0.0001 per ordinary share. The assumed purchase price of $0.7018 per Series 2 unit will be pre-paid, except for a nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per ordinary share subject to the pre-funded Series 2024-B warrants, upon issuance of the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants and, consequently, no additional payment or other consideration (other than the nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per share) will be required to be delivered to us by the holder upon exercise of the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants. See “Description of Warrants” for more information on the securities offered hereby.

 

The placement agent has agreed to use reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of the securities. There is no required minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds that must be sold as a condition to completion of this offering.

 

Our ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “GNS.” The Series 2024 -A warrants, the Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants are not, and will not be, listed for trading on any national securities exchange or other trading system.

 

We are both an “emerging growth company” and a “foreign private issuer” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this and future filings. See “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company” and “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer.”

 

Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-14. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

We have retained H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or the placement agent, as our exclusive placement agent to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the securities in this offering. The placement agent has no obligation to buy any of the securities from us or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the securities. We have agreed to pay the placement agent fees set forth in the table below, which assumes that we sell all of the securities we are offering. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in escrow, trust or similar arrangement. There is no minimum offering requirement as a condition of closing of this offering. We will bear all costs associate with the offering. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information regarding these arrangements.

 

 

 

  Per Series 1 Unit   Per Series 2 Unit   Total 
Public offering price  $   $   $ 
Placement agent fees(1)  $   $   $ 
Proceeds, before expenses, to us(2)  $   $   $ 

 

  (1) We have also agreed to reimburse the placement agent’s legal fees and expenses in the amount of up to $150,000. See “Plan of Distribution” for a description of the compensation to be received by the placement agent.
     
  (2) Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to closing in this offering, the actual public offering amount, placement agent fees and proceeds to us, if any, are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the total maximum offering amounts set forth above. For more information, see “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Delivery of the ordinary shares, the Series 2024 -A warrants and the Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants, if any, offered hereby is expected to be made on or about ________, 2024.

 

 

 

H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO.

 

The date of this prospectus is __________, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table Of Contents

 

  Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS S-1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY S-3
SUMMARY COMBINED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA S-11
RISK FACTORS S-14
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS S-47
USE OF PROCEEDS S-49
DIVIDEND POLICY S-49
CAPITALIZATION S-50
DILUTION S-51
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS S-53
BUSINESS S-73
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS S-144
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL S-145
CERTAIN MATERIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS S-171
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION S-177
EXPENSES OF THIS OFFERING S-183
LEGAL MATTERS S-184
EXPERTS S-184
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES S-184
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION S-184
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS F-1

 

i
 

 

About This Prospectus

 

Except where indicated or where the context otherwise requires, the terms “Genius Group,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “our Company”, “company” and “our business” refer to Genius Group Limited together with its consolidated subsidiaries. For explanations of certain other terms used in this prospectus, please read “Prospectus Summary — Overview — A Brief Glossary” beginning on page S-3.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the placement agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the placement agent is not, making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.

 

For investors outside of the United States of America (the “United States” or the “U.S.”): Neither we nor the placement agent has done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction, other than the United States, where action for that purpose is required. Persons outside of the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our ordinary shares and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States.

 

The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currencies of the Genius Group and its subsidiaries are their local currencies (Singapore dollar, British pound, Indonesian rupiah and South African Rand, New Zealand Dollar) and the functional currency of ERL, UAV and RF is the U.S. dollar. The Company engages in foreign currency denominated transactions with customers and suppliers, as well as between subsidiaries with different functional currencies. Gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in non-functional currencies are recognized in earnings.

.

Unless otherwise noted, (i) all industry and market data in this prospectus is presented in U.S. dollars, (ii) all financial and other data related to Genius Group in this prospectus is presented in U.S. dollars, (iii) all references to “$” or “USD” in this prospectus (other than in our financial statements) refer to U.S. dollars, and (iv) all references to “S$” or “SGD” in this prospectus refer to Singapore dollars.

 

Our fiscal year end is December 31. References to a particular “fiscal year” are to our fiscal year ended December 31 of that calendar year. Our audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

We obtained the industry, market and competitive position data in this prospectus from our own internal estimates, surveys, and research as well as from publicly available information, industry and general publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. None of the independent industry publications used in this prospectus were prepared on our behalf. Industry publications, research, surveys, studies and forecasts generally state that the information they contain has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. Forecasts and other forward-looking information obtained from these sources are subject to the same qualifications and uncertainties as the other forward-looking statements in this prospectus, and to risks due to a variety of factors, including those described under “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these forecasts and other forward-looking information.

 

Unless we indicate otherwise or the context otherwise requires, all information in this prospectus gives effect to the 6-for-1 share split with respect to our ordinary shares, which took effect on April 29, 2021.

 

We have proprietary rights to trademarks used in this prospectus that are important to our business, many of which are registered under applicable intellectual property laws. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus are without the ®, ™ and other similar symbols, but the absence of such references is not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensors to these trademarks, service marks and trade names.

 

S-1

 

 

This prospectus contains additional trademarks, service marks and trade names of others. All trademarks, service marks and trade names appearing in this prospectus are, to our knowledge, the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks, service marks or trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other person.

 

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, our ordinary shares were not offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not be offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and this prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of our ordinary shares, has not been circulated or distributed, nor will it be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (“SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

 

Where our ordinary shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

(a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the ordinary shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA, except:

 

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA or Section 276(4)I(ii) of the SFA;
where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;
where the transfer is by operation of law;
as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or
as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

 

Any reference to the SFA is a reference to the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore and a reference to any term as defined in the SFA or any provision in the SFA is a reference to that term as modified or amended from time to time including by such of its subsidiary legislation as may be applicable at the relevant time.

 

Notification under Section 309B(1)(c) of the SFA: The Company has determined, and hereby notifies all persons (including relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A(1) of the SFA)) that the ordinary shares are prescribed capital markets products (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

 

By accepting this prospectus, the recipient hereof and thereof represents and warrants that such recipient is entitled to receive it in accordance with the restrictions set forth above and agrees to be bound by the limitations contained herein. Any failure to comply with these limitations may constitute a violation of law.

 

S-2

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights certain information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including our financial statements and related notes and the risks described under “Risk Factors.” Our actual results and future events may differ significantly based upon a number of factors. The reader should not put undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this document, which speak only as of the date on the cover of this prospectus.

 

Overview

 

A Brief Glossary

 

To aid in the understanding the entities, acquisitions, products, services and certain other concepts referred to in this prospectus, the following non-exhaustive glossary of terms is provided:

 

AI is an abbreviation of Artificial Intelligence and refers to technology that enables machine learning, specifically in the case of Genius Group where our Genie virtual assistant is able to recommend personalized steps for each student based on Genie learning the personal strengths, passions, purpose, preferences and level of each student through their inputs on our Edtech platform.

 

Acquisitions refers to the five companies that we acquired following our IPO including Revealed Films acquired in Oct 2022. The acquisition companies are Education Angels, E-Square, Property Investors Network, University of Antelope Valley and Revealed Films.

 

Certification refers to the digital courses on our GeniusU platform that faculty members take in order to be certified to mentor students on GeniusU, and to be able to add their own courses and products to GeniusU.

 

City Leader refers to our Mentors who host monthly events in their city to support the Students and Mentors in their local area.

 

E-Square refers to E-Squared Education Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, a South African private limited company and one of the Acquisitions as defined below.

 

Edtech is an abbreviation of Educational Technology and refers to technology designed to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and experience of the education process. Genius Group is focused on growing as an Edtech group with the ability to scale rapidly and operate globally.

 

Education Angels refers to Education Angels in Home Childcare Limited, a New Zealand private limited company and one of the Acquisitions as defined below.

 

Entrepreneurs Institute refers to Wealth Dynamics Pte Ltd, a Singapore private limited company and one of the companies in the Pre-IPO Group.

 

Entrepreneur Resorts refers to Entrepreneur Resorts Limited, a Seychelles public listed company on the Seychelles Merj Stock Exchange (Ticker: ERL). Entrepreneur Resorts was acquired by Genius Group in 2020 (spin-off completed on October 2, 2023).

 

Genius Group (or the Group) refers to the entire group of companies within Genius Group, which include the four companies in the Pre-IPO Group and, following the closing of their acquisitions, the five Acquisitions as defined below

 

Genius Group Ltd refers specifically to the holding company, Genius Group Limited, the Singapore public limited company which owns the other companies in the Group. Prior to a corporate name change in August 2019, it was known as GeniusU Pte Ltd. For the avoidance of doubt, references in this prospectus to Genius Group Ltd with respect to periods prior to its August 2019 name change should be understood as references to the company as operated under its previous name.

 

GeniusU Ltd refers to the company formed in August 2019 under the corporate name GeniusU Pte Ltd, and subsequently converted to a public company, GeniusU Ltd in May 2021 (as distinct from its parent Genius Group Ltd, the current Group holding company, which until August 2019 used the name GeniusU Pte Ltd).

 

S-3

 

 

GeniusU, when used without any corporate suffix or otherwise not as part of a corporate name, refers to the Edtech platform including website, mobile app, AI system, data and software system under the GeniusU brand.

 

IASB refers to International Accounting Standards Board.

 

IFRS refers to International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by IASB.

 

Mentor refers to our faculty members who have taken and passed Certifications on GeniusU.

 

microcamp refers to courses that are a combination of digital content on our GeniusU Edtech platform and live in-person courses conducted with our Mentors.

 

microdegree refers to the digital courses on our GeniusU Edtech platform. These are a combination of video, audio and text-based learning with assessments and exercises that students can take in their own time, on their own or with the guidance of our faculty.

 

microschool refers to the scheduled, live digital courses on our GeniusU Edtech platform. These are similar in format to microdegrees but differ in that they are conducted live together with other students and the guidance of our faculty, with live interaction, feedback and challenge-based presentations, competitions and awards.

 

Partners refer to all individuals who are creating, marketing delivering or hosting courses on GeniusU and PIN, and all faculty members delivering courses in all other Group companies.

 

Pre-IPO Group refers to the four companies which were already operating as a group in 2020 prior to the Acquisitions closed in 2022, namely Genius Group Ltd, GeniusU Ltd, Entrepreneurs Institute and Entrepreneur Resorts.

 

Property Investors Network (or PIN) refers to Property Investors Network Ltd combined with its sister company Mastermind Principles Limited, a United Kingdom (“U.K.”) private limited company and one of the Acquisitions as defined above.

 

Revealed Films (or RF) refers to Revealed Films Inc, US Corporation and one of the Acquisitions as defined above.

 

students refer to all individuals who have registered for courses in our Group companies. This is further divided into Free Students, who have registered for free courses, and Paying Students, who have registered and paid for courses.

 

University of Antelope Valley (or UAV) refers to University of Antelope Valley, Inc., a California corporation and one of the Acquisitions as defined above.

 

S-4

 

 

Our Company

 

We believe that we are a world leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group based on student numbers with a student base of 3.34 million on GeniusU at the end of June 2023. Our mission is to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, lifelong learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed in today’s market.

 

To help achieve our mission, we have completed an IPO on NYSE American, on April 14, 2022 and then dual listed the company on Upstream on April 6, 2023 (although we subsequently found that there was little demand for Upstream and on September 19, 2023, Genius Group. Ltd. publicly announced that it had commenced the process to delist its securities from Upstream, which process was completed on September 29, 2023. The Genius Group will have no further contact with Upstream as a result of this delisting. It will not be involved with or take part in any distribution of or listing of the shares of its spun off subsidiary, Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd (“ERL”) on Upstream or any other exchange, which will be the sole responsibility of ERL. The decision to delist the Company from Upstream is due to complex securities regulations arising from the dual listing on Upstream and NYSE and de minimis use of Upstream by GNS shareholders). We have also raised additional capital through a follow-on private placement of a Convertible Note in September 2022. We grew from a Pre-IPO Group of four companies to a post IPO Group of nine companies, once the five Acquisitions closed.

 

Starting from October 30, 2023, U.S. individuals will no longer have the authorization to engage in securities trading activities (including buying, selling, or depositing) on the Upstream/MERJ Exchange. All U.S. shareholders will be promptly removed from Upstream and their holdings will be transferred back to the ERL book entry system. Investors will still need to follow the process to claim their ERL shares, but these shares will be exclusively held with ERL through the registrar. Shareholders won’t be able to view their positions on Upstream, as they will no longer be maintained in Upstream accounts. Trading these securities won’t be possible after a 6-month period, and shareholders will remain as such until ERL lists on another market or until the SEC accepts the Upstream/MERJ position of 15A-6.

 

Our Pre-IPO Group includes our holding company, Genius Group Ltd, our Edtech platform, GeniusU Ltd, and two companies that we acquired: Entrepreneurs Institute in 2019 and Entrepreneur Resorts in 2020 (spin-off completed on October 2, 2023).

 

The entrepreneur education system of our Pre-IPO Group has been delivered virtually and in-person, in multiple languages, locally and globally mainly via our GeniusU Edtech platform to adults seeking to grow their entrepreneur and leadership skills. Our partners and community are global with an average of 8,900 new students joining our GeniusU platform each week in 2023. Our City Leaders have been conducting our events (physically or virtually) in over 100 cities and over 2,500+ faculty members have been operating their microschools using our online tools.

 

We are now expanding our education system to age groups beyond our adult audience, to children and young adults. The five Acquisitions are our first step towards this. They include: Education Angels, which provides early learning in New Zealand for children from 0-5 years old; E-Square, which provides primary and secondary school education in South Africa; University of Antelope Valley, which provides vocational certifications and university degrees in California, USA; Property Investors Network, which provides property investment courses and events in England, UK; and Revealed Films, a media production company that specializes in multi-part documentaries.

 

Our plan is to combine their education programs with our current education programs and Edtech platform as part of one lifelong learning system, and we have selected these acquisitions because they already share aspects of our Genius Curriculum and our focus on entrepreneur education.

 

The five Acquisitions have added $7.6 million in revenue to the Group in the period ended June 30, 2023, which represents 85% of the $8.9 million pro forma Group revenue during this period, while the Pre-IPO Group generated $1.4 million (excluding ERL). For the year ended December 31, 2022, the five Acquisitions have added $18.6 million in revenue to the Group, which represents 79% of the $23.5 million pro forma Group revenue during this period, while the Pre-IPO Group generated $4.9 million.

 

In coming years, we plan to continue the growth of our Group through a combination of organic growth of our Edtech platform together with the acquisition of various education companies that we believe provide complementary programs that can be added to our Genius Curriculum. This Prospectus provides details of both our acquisition strategy together with our plans to integrate these Acquisitions together with future acquisitions into our Edtech platform, “entrepreneur education” vision, Genius Curriculum and “freemium” student and partner conversion models.

 

We define “entrepreneur education” as personalized discovery-based learning that leads to higher levels of self-awareness, self-mastery and self-expression. We believe this in turn develops leadership and entrepreneurial skills through which students can independently create value and “create a job” rather than being dependent on a system in which they need to “get a job”. We believe these skills can be nurtured from an early age.

 

We also believe these skills can be learned at any age, enabling adults to reskill and upskill themselves. We describe our Genius Curriculum, together with the philosophy, principles, learning methodology, course content and delivery of our curriculum in the Business section set forth below in this prospectus.

 

On December 15, 2023, we publicly disclosed that we have revised our guidance from a net loss of $17 million to a net profit of $3 million as a result to the omission of certain non-cash items.

 

Roger Hamilton has agreed to convert $1 million of his loan to the Company into Series 1 Units upon the same terms and conditions as offered by this prospectus (the “Founder Securities”). The remaining balance of the loan of approximately $900 thousand shall be repaid in cash at a date no sooner than July 1, 2024.

 

S-5

 

 

Summary of Risks Affecting Our Company

 

The following is a summary of certain, but not all, of the risks that could adversely affect our business, operations and financial results. If any of the risks actually occur, our business could be materially impaired, the trading price of our ordinary shares could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry (All Group companies)

 

  We are a global business subject to complex economic, legal, political, tax, foreign currency and other risks associated with international operations, which risks may be difficult to adequately address.
  Our growth strategy anticipates that we will create new products, services, and distribution channels and expand existing distribution channels. If we are unable to effectively manage these initiatives, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows would be adversely affected.
  Our growth may have a negative effect on the successful expansion of our business, on our people management, and on the increase in complexity of our software and platforms.
  If our growth rate decelerates significantly, our prospects and financial results would be adversely affected, preventing us from achieving profitability.
  We may be unable to recruit, train and/or retain qualified teachers, mentors, and other skilled professionals.
  Our business may be materially adversely affected if we are not able to maintain or improve the content of our existing courses or to develop new courses on a timely basis and in a cost-effective manner.
  Failure to attract and retain students to enroll in our courses and programs, and to maintain tuition levels, may have a material adverse impact on our business and prospects.
  If student performance falls or parent and student satisfaction declines, a significant number of students may not remain enrolled in our programs, and our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
  Our curriculum and approach to instruction may not achieve widespread acceptance, which would limit our growth and profitability.
  The continued development of our brand identity is important to our business. If we are not able to maintain and enhance our brand, our business and operating results may suffer.
  If our partnerships are unable to maintain educational quality, we may be adversely affected.
  There is significant competition in the market segments that we serve, and we expect such competition to increase; we may not be able to compete effectively.
  We cannot assure you that we will not be subject to liability claims for any inaccurate or inappropriate content in our training programs, which could cause us to incur legal costs and damage our reputation.
  We may be subject to legal liability resulting from the actions of third parties, including independent contractors and teachers, which could cause us to incur substantial costs and damage our reputation.
  We may not have sufficient insurance to protect ourselves against substantial losses.
  A cybersecurity attack or other security breach or incident could delay or interrupt service to our users and customers, harm our reputation or subject us to significant liability.

 

S-6

 

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

 

  We are a growing company with a limited operating history. If we fail to achieve further marketplace acceptance for our products and services, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
  Our Edtech platform is technologically complex, and potential defects in our platforms or in updates to our platforms could be difficult or even impossible to fix.
  System disruptions, capacity constraints and vulnerability from security risks to our online computer networks could impact our ability to generate revenues and damage our reputation, limiting our ability to attract and retain students.
  Our current success and future growth depend on the continued acceptance of the Internet and the corresponding growth in users seeking educational services on the Internet.
  We are susceptible to the illegal or improper use of our content, Edtech and platform (whether from students, teachers, mentors, management personnel and other employees, or third parties), or other forms of misconduct, which could expose us to liability and damage our business and brand.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry (Specific to Acquisitions)

 

  We have acquired the acquisitions and may pursue other strategic acquisitions or investments. The failure of an acquisition or investment (including but not limited to the Acquisitions) to be completed or to produce the anticipated results, or the inability to fully integrate an acquired company, could harm our business.
  Public perception and regulatory changes in the primary school and secondary school systems in countries that E-Square may expand to may have a materially adverse impact on the company.
  Our growth plans for E-Square and our plans to expand into the primary school and high school markets will be a complex and lengthy process where future success is not assured.
  If we cannot maintain student enrollments and maintain tuition levels in our Acquisition, UAV, the university’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

Risks Related to Investing in a Foreign Private Issuer or a Singapore Company

 

  As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain requirements under the NYSE American listing standards. This may afford less protection to holders of our ordinary shares than U.S. regulations.
  We are a foreign private issuer and, as a result, we are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are instead subject to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less detailed than those for a U.S. issuer.
  We may lose our foreign private issuer status, which would then require us to comply with the Exchange Act’s domestic reporting regime and cause us to incur additional legal, accounting and other expenses.

 

S-7

 

 

6-for-1 Share Split

 

On April 29, 2021, we effected a 6-for-1 share split with respect to our ordinary shares. Unless we indicate otherwise or the context otherwise requires, all information in this prospectus gives effect to this share split.

 

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

 

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” (“EGC”) as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). We had less than $1.07 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, and have not tripped any of the measures that would cause us to no longer qualify as an EGC. As such, we may take advantage of reduced public reporting requirements. These provisions include, but are not limited to:

 

  Being permitted to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our filings with the SEC;
  Not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting;
  Reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; and
  Exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

We may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of ordinary shares pursuant to the IPO. However, if certain events occur before the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” if our annual gross revenues exceed $1.07 billion or if we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company before the end of such five-year period.

 

Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We have elected to take advantage of this extended transition period and acknowledge such election is irrevocable pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act.

 

Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer

 

We report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as a non-U.S. company with “foreign private issuer” status. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, so long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:

 

  the rules under the Exchange Act that require U.S. domestic public companies to issue financial statements prepared under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”);
  the sections of the Exchange Act that regulate the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of any securities registered under the Exchange Act;
  the sections of the Exchange Act that require insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and that impose liability on insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and
  the rules under the Exchange Act that require the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, containing unaudited financial and other specified information, and current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events.

 

S-8

 

 

We file with the SEC, within four months after the end of each fiscal year (or as otherwise required by the SEC), a prospectus on Form 20-F containing financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm.

 

We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We would cease to be a foreign private issuer at such time as more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held of record by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (i) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States. Both foreign private issuers and emerging growth companies are also exempt from certain of the more extensive SEC executive compensation disclosure rules. Therefore, if we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company but remain a foreign private issuer, we will continue to be exempt from such rules and will continue to be permitted to follow our home country practice as to the disclosure of such matters.

 

Corporate Information

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 8 Amoy Street, #01-01, Singapore 049950, which is also our registered address, and our telephone number is +65 8940 1200. The address of our website is www.geniusgroup.net. Information contained on, or available through, our website does not constitute part of, and is not deemed incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Puglisi & Associates, located at 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711.

 

The Offering

 

Series 1 units offered by us in this offering   Up to 15,673,981 Series 1 units.
     
Series 2 units offered by us in this offering   Up to 15,673,981 Series 2 units. We are offering to those purchasers whose purchase of Series 1 units in this offering would otherwise result in the purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% or 9.99%, at the election of the purchaser, of our outstanding ordinary shares following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase, if such purchaser so chooses, Series 2 units, in lieu of Series 1 units that would otherwise result in beneficial ownership in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding ordinary shares.
     
Ordinary shares offered by us in this offering   15,673,981 ordinary shares (assuming the sale of all units covered by this prospectus, the exercise in full of all pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants included in the Series 2 units, and no exercise of any Series 2024 -A warrants or Series 2024-C warrants included in the Series 1 or Series 2 units).
     
Series 2024-A and Series 2024-C warrants offered by us in the offering  

Series 2024-A warrants to purchase up to 15,673,981 ordinary shares and Series 2024-C warrants to purchase up to 15,673,981 ordinary shares. Each full Series 2024 -A warrant and each full Series 2024-C warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one ordinary share. The Series 2024 -A warrants and Series 2024-C warrants will be exercisable commencing on the date of issuance and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance (for the Series 2024-A warrants) and on the 18 month anniversary of the date of issuance (for the Series 2024-C warrants), for both series of warrants at an assumed exercise price of $0.7018 per share.

 

This prospectus also relates to the offering of the shares issuable upon exercise of the Series 2024 -A warrants and the Series 2024-C warrants. The exercise price of the Series 2024 -A warrants and Series 2024-C warrants and the number of shares into which the Series 2024 -A warrants and the Series 2024-C warrants may be exercised are subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.

     
Pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants offered by us in the offering  

Pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants to purchase up to 15,673,981 shares. Each full pre-funded Series 2024-B warrant, if any, will entitle the holder to purchase one share. The pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants will be exercisable commencing on the date of issuance and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance, at an exercise price of $0.0001 per share. The assumed purchase price of $0.7018 per share will be pre-paid, except for a nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per share, upon issuance of the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants and, consequently, no additional payment or other consideration (other than the nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per share) will be required to be delivered to us by the holder upon exercise.

 

This prospectus also relates to the offering of the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants. The exercise price of the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants and the number of shares into which the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants may be exercised are subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.

 

S-9

 

  

Beneficial Ownership Limitation in Series 2024 -A warrants and Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024-B warrants   A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the Series 2024 -A warrants and/or Series 2024-C warrants and/or pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants to the extent that the holder, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, would beneficially own more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder prior to the date of issuance, 9.99%) of our outstanding ordinary shares after exercise. The holder may increase or decrease this beneficial ownership limitation to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% upon notice to us, provided that, in the case of an increase of such beneficial ownership limitation, such notice shall not be effective until 61 days following notice to us.
     
Shares outstanding after this offering   84,648,280 ordinary shares (assuming the exercise of all of the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants).
     
Use of proceeds  

We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $9,950,000, assuming no exercise of any Series 2024 -A warrants or Series 2024-C warrants issued in this offering, after deducting the placement agent’s fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds received from this offering to fund working capital and for other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Because this is a best efforts offering with no minimum amount of securities or offering proceeds as a condition to closing, we may not sell all or any of the securities offered hereby. As a result, we may receive significantly less in net proceeds than we currently estimate.

     
Risk factors   Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” of this prospectus and the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the documents incorporated by reference herein for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in our securities.
     
NYSE American symbol   “GNS.” The Series 2024 -A warrants, the Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants are not, and will not be, listed for trading on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, including the NYSE American.

 

Unless otherwise noted, the number of ordinary shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering as set forth above is based on 73,873,784 shares outstanding as of December 27, 2023, and excludes:

 

2,516,581 management and employee share options issued and reserved.
Any further conversion from the convertible debt issuance or any outstanding warrants.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the Series 2024 -A warrants or Series 2024-C warrants or the Placement Agent Warrants (as hereinafter defined) offered hereby.

 

S-10

 

 

SUMMARY COMBINED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Please refer to the glossary of terms provided in the Prospectus Summary for aid in understanding the entities, acquisitions, products, services and certain other concepts referred to in the financial data presented herein.

 

The following tables set forth summarizes combined pro forma financial data and summary consolidated financial data for the periods and as of the dates indicated. The summary combined unaudited pro forma financial data below includes the consolidated financials of all companies in the Genius Group, including the Pre-IPO Group and the Acquisitions as if they were operating as one group in the periods indicated and excludes the spin-off entity, Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd. The pro forma financials for period ended June 30, 2023 include the financial data of the Pre-IPO Group and Acquisitions from the audited financials and the unaudited financial data of the Acquisitions.

 

The summary income data for the years ended December 31, 2022 and the interim periods ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 and the summary balance sheet data as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 for the Group are derived from the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Amended Annual Report. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in U.S. dollars and in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB

 

On January 30, 2023, the Board of Directors for Genius Group Ltd, approved with conditions of Singapore court approval, the spinoff of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd. This spinoff was completed in order to further its strategy for streamlining and rationalize the group’s operations into Genius with its Edtech focus, and ERL, with its hospitality focus. On August 1, 2023, the Singapore court approved the group to spinoff of ERL from the group which enabled the management teams of both companies to grow their respective business models most effectively. The Company also announced the record date on August 31, 2023 with the spin-off completed on October 2, 2023.

 

Genius Group is made up of nine companies (taking into account the Acquisitions) that have varying financial performance. For this reason, you should read the summary combined pro forma financial data in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes beginning on page F-1 of the Company’s Prospectus, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in the Company’s Prospectus. Our historical results do not necessarily indicate our expected results for any future periods.

 

Financial Statement Data

 

   Group Unaudited Financials Six months Ended June 30,   Group Audited Financials Year Ended December 31, 
   2023   2022   2022   2021 
   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) (Restated)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) 
Sales   11,796    5,343    18,194    8,295 
Cost of goods sold   (5,593)   (3,112)   (9,555)   (5,537)
Gross profit   6,203    2,231    8,639    2,757 
Other Operating Income   4    225    280    324 
Operating Expenses   (15,369)   (5,428)   (50,502)   (7,250)
Operating Loss   (9,162)   (2,972)   (41,583)   (4,168)
Other income   68    31    419    0 
Other Expense   (2,005)   (580)   (15,151)   (450)
Net Loss Before Tax   (11,099)   (3,521)   (56,315)   (4,618)
Tax Benefits   325    24    1,064    129 
Net Loss After Tax   (10,774)   (3,497)   (55,252)   (4,489)
Other Comprehensive Loss   (600)   (70)   (1,045)   230 
Total Loss   (11,374)   (3,567)   (56,297)   (4,259)
Net income per share, basic and diluted   (0.32)   (0.20)   (2.44)   (0.28)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted   33,668,483    17,794,634    22,634,366    16,155,812 

 

S-11

 

 

  

Group

Unaudited Financials

Six months ended June 30

  

Group Audited Financials year ended

December 31,

 

 
   2023   2022   2021 
   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) 
Summary Balance Sheet Data:               
Total current assets   9,350    24,251    6,496 
Total non-current assets   66,052    67,009    11,099 
Total Assets   75,402    91,260    17,595 
Total current liabilities   17,486    23,378    7,140 
Total non-current liabilities   51,776    53,927    2,469 
Total Liabilities   69,262    77,305    9,609 
Total Stockholders’ Equity   6,140    13,955    7,986 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   75,402    91,260    17,595 

 

Pro forma Financials

 

Pro forma financials are derived by reducing the financial impact of spin off of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd and adding back acquisition financials for the period prior to acquisition date. Due to the intercompany receivable from Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd, the balance sheet effect of spin-off results in an increase in assets (current assets) which is reflected by a negative balance under Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd.

 

  

Genius Group

Unaudited

Pro forma

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2023

 
   Unaudited Financials   Entrepreneur Resorts   Acquisitions   Pro forma Financials 
   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) 
Sales   11,796    (2,834)   -    8,962 
Cost of goods sold   (5,594)   963    -    (4,631)
Gross profit   6,202    (1,871)   -    4,331 
Other Operating Income   4    3    -    7 
Operating Expenses   (15,369)   1,613    -    (13,756)
Operating Loss from the continuing operations   (9,163)   (255)   -    (9,418)

 

  

Genius Group

Unaudited

Pro forma

Year Ended

December 31, 2022

 
   Audited Financials   Entrepreneur Resorts   Acquisitions   Pro forma Financials 
   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) 
Sales   18,194    (4,660)   9,936    23,470 
Cost of goods sold   (9,555)   2,776    (3,773)   (10,552)
Gross profit   8,639    (1,884)   6,162    12,918 
Other Operating Income   280    (95)   -    185 
Operating Expenses   (50,502)   11,725    (6,512)   (45,289)
Operating Loss from the continuing operations   (41,583)   9,746    (349)   (32,186)

 

  

Genius Group

Unaudited

Pro forma

Six months Ended

June 30, 2023

 
   Unaudited Financials   Entrepreneur Resorts   Pro forma
Adjustment
   Pro forma Financials 
   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) 
Summary Balance Sheet Data:                    
Total current assets   9,350    3,229    -    12,579 
Total non-current assets   66,052    (946)   -    65,106 
Total Assets   75,402    2,283    -    77,685 
Total current liabilities   17,486    (2,527)   -    14,959 
Total non-current liabilities   51,776    (2,266)   -    49,511 
Total Liabilities   69,262    (4,793)   -    64,470 
Total Stockholders’ Equity   6,140    7,076    -    13,216 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   75,402    2,283    -    77,686 

 

Non-IFRS Financial Measures — Adjusted EBITDA

 

We have included Adjusted EBITDA in this Prospectus because it is a key measure used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our core operating performance and trends, to prepare and approve our annual budget and to develop short- and long-term operational plans. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating Adjusted EBITDA can provide a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our core business. Non-IFRS financial measures are not a substitute for IFRS financial measures.

 

We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as Net loss for the period plus income taxes plus/ minus net finance result plus depreciation and amortization plus/minus share-based compensation expenses plus bad debt provision. Share-based compensation expenses and bad debt provision are included in General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Derived from Financial Statement Data

 

  

Group

Unaudited Financials

Six months ended

June 30,

  

Group

Audited Financials

Year ended

December 31,

 
   2023   2022   2022   2021 
   (USD 000’s)  

(USD 000’s)

(Restated)

   (USD 000’s)    (USD 000’s) 
Net Loss   (10,775)   (3,497)   (55,252)   (4,489)
Tax Benefits   (325)   (24)   (1,064)   (129)
Interest Expense, net   1,999    99    1,312    450 
Depreciation and Amortization   1,209    836    2,351    1,575 
Impairment   -    480    28,246    - 
Revaluation Adjustment of Contingent Liabilities   -    -    13,838    - 
Stock Based Compensation   403    150    1,309    294 
Bad Debt Provision   170    -    1,509    (39)
Adjusted EBITDA   (7,318)   (1,956)   (7,750)   (2,338)

 

S-12

 

 

Pro forma Financials

 

Pro forma EBITDA is derived by reducing the financial impact of spin off of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd and adding back acquisition financials for the period prior to acquisition date.

 

  

Genius Group

Unaudited

Pro forma

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

 
   Unaudited Financials   Entrepreneur Resorts   Acquisitions   Pro forma Financials 
   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) 
Net Loss   (10,775)   -    -    (10,775)
Tax Benefits   (325)   -    -    (325)
Interest Expense, net   1,999    -    -    1,999 
Depreciation and Amortization   1,209    (30)   -    1,179 
Impairment   -    -    -    - 
Revaluation Adjustment of Contingent Liabilities   -    -    -    - 
Stock Based Compensation   403         -    403 
Bad Debt Provision   170         -    170 
Adjusted EBITDA   (7,318)   (30)   -    (7,348)

 

  

Genius Group

Unaudited

Pro forma

Year Ended

December 31, 2022

 
   Audited Financials   Entrepreneur Resorts   Acquisitions   Pro forma Financials 
   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) 
Net Loss   (55,252)   -    348    (54,903)
Tax Benefits   (1,064)   -    -    (1,064)
Interest Expense, net   1,312    -    12    1,325 
Depreciation and Amortization   2,351    (1,105)   103    1,348 
Impairment   28,246    (7,986)   -    20,260 
Revaluation Adjustment of Contingent Liabilities   13,838    -    -    13,838 
Stock Based Compensation   1,309    (111)   -    1,198 
Bad Debt Provision   1,509    (9)   19    1,520 
Adjusted EBITDA   (7,750)   (9,211)   482    (16,479)

 

Key Business Metrics

 

Education segment — Genius Group (including Acquisitions)

 

   Key Business Metrics –
Education Segment
 
   For the six months ended June 30, 2023   For the year ended
December 31,2022
   For the year ended
December 31,2021
 
Number of students and users   5,365,626    4,450,852    2,825,628 
Number of Free Students and users   5,186,477    4,278,933    2,768,530 
Number of Paying Students and users   179,149    171,919    72,422 
Number of Partners   14,942    14,760    11,414 
Number of countries of operation   191    191    191 
Marketing Spend   849,155    1,994,331    1,139,928 
Education Revenue   8,961,780    23,469,609    25,468,253 
Revenue from New Paying Students   2,796,560    10,164,848    7,377,236 
New Students   450,741    1,640,698    890,328 
New Paying Students   8,488    19,681    10,425 
Conversion rate   1.88%   1.20%   1.17%
Average Acquisition Cost per New Paying Student   100    101    109 
Average Annual Revenue per New Paying Student   329    516    707 
Net Income (Loss) margin   (48.48)%   (172.07)%   (4.56)%
Adjusted EBITDA margin   (29.00)%   (11.76)%   4.10%

 

The key business metrics for education segment is measured and calculated as

 

Number of students and users – The Number of Students, Number of Free Students, and Number of Paying Students are the total numbers for each at the end of the year. For purposes of determining the Number of Students, we treat each student account that registers with a unique email as a student and adjust for any cancellations. This number is then divided into the Number of Paying Students, who have made one or more purchases, and the Number of Free Students, who are utilizing our free courses and products without making a purchase.

 

Number of Partners - The Number of Partners is the total number of partners at the end of the year. For purposes of determining our Number of Partners, we treat each partner account who registers as a partner with an ability to earn on our platform as a partner.

 

Number of countries of operation – The Number of Countries of Operation is the total number of countries in which we have students or partners at the end of the year.

 

Marketing Spend - The Marketing Spend is the total annual marketing spend by the business to acquire new students and partners.

 

Education Revenue - Education Revenue is all revenue from the education segment of our total revenue.

 

Revenue from New Paying Students - Revenue from New Paying Students is the total amount of revenue generated from new paying students for the year.

 

New Students and New Paying Students - New Students is the total number of new students who joined as a student during the period. New Paying Students is the total number of paying students who have become customers for the first time during the year.

 

Conversion Rate - Conversion rate is calculated as the total students (including free students and paying students) converting into paying students and is derived by dividing the number of new paying students by the total number of new students.

 

Average Acquisition Cost per New Paying Student – The Average Acquisition Cost per New Paying Student is calculated by dividing the Marketing Spend by the Number of New Paying Students.

 

Average Annual Revenue per New Paying Student – This metric is calculated as the total revenue for the year derived from New Paying Students divided by the total number of New Paying Students.

 

Net Income (Loss) margin – The net income (Loss) margin is calculated as net income divided by the total education revenue.

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin – The adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by the total education revenue. The Adjusted EBITDA is Net Income (Loss) excluding tax expenses, interest expenses, depreciation and amortization, impairment, Revaluation Adjustment of Contingent Liabilities, stock-based compensation and bad debt provision.

 

S-13

 

 

Campus segment – Entrepreneur Resorts (spin-off completed on October 2, 2023)

 

   Key Business Metrics –
Campus Segment
 
   For the six months ended
June 30, 2023
   For the year ended
December 31, 2022
   For the year ended
December 31, 2021
 
Revenue   2,833,933    4,638,122    3,100,750 
No of Locations   6    6    6 
No of Seats/Rooms   367    367    367 
Utilization   35%   33%   28%
Total Orders   70,454    136,204    96,390 
Revenue Per Order   40    34    32 

 

The key business metrics for campus segment is measured and calculated as

 

Note on Campus segment business models

 

Our campus segment is divided into our three venue models within Entrepreneur Resorts, described as follows

 

Cafe — Our Cafe model is our smaller scale venue combining a cafe, co-working space, education and event space, with revenue from food & beverage, home delivery and venue rental.

 

Central — Our Central model is our larger scale venue combining a cafe, co-working space, education and event space, with revenue from food & beverage, home delivery and venue rental.

 

Resort — Our Resort model is our resort campus with revenue from accommodation, food and beverage, spa and ancillary services and conference facilities.

 

Revenue - Revenue is all revenue from the campus segment of our total revenue.

 

No of Locations – Location is the total operating location within campus segment.

 

No of Seats/Rooms - For Cafe and Central locations, this is a measure of the number of customer seats on premises at the end of the year. For Resort locations, this is a measure of the daily number of available guest rooms at the end of the year.

 

Utilization - Utilization is the percentage of the total capacity of Seats and Rooms that is utilized in orders throughout the year.

 

Total Order - This metric is calculated as the total number of customer orders fulfilled by each of our venues during the year. The number includes dine-in, take away and delivery orders.

 

Revenue Per Order - This metric is calculated as Revenue divided by Total Orders.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our ordinary shares is highly speculative and involves a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks, as well as other information contained in this prospectus, before making an investment in our Company. The risks discussed below could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends and the trading price of our ordinary shares. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry (All Group Companies)

 

Investing in our ordinary shares is highly speculative and involves a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks, as well as other information contained in this Prospectus, before making an investment in our Company. The risks discussed below could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends and the trading price of our ordinary shares. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

S-14

 

 

Going Concern

 

Pursuant to IAS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements, the Company is required to and does evaluate at each annual and interim period whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued. Based on the definitions in the relevant accounting standards, and due to recent changes in the Company’s 2022 convertible loan terms in which company elected to pay all future payments in cash, negative cash flows, and continued net losses, management has determined that without additional capital raised, in the next twelve months, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. This has been disclosed in the audit report of the Company’s amended audit report published in the form of 20-F/A.

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2023 and December 31,2022 have been prepared on a going concern basis. Although the Company has taken, and plans to continue to take, proactive measures to enhance its liquidity position and provide additional financial flexibility, including discussions with lenders and bankers, there can be no assurance that these measures, including the timing and terms thereof, will be successful or sufficient.

 

The substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern may negatively affect the price of the Company’s ordinary shares, may impact relationships with third parties with whom the Company does business, including customers, vendors and lenders, may impact the Company’s ability to raise additional capital or implement its business plan.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry (All Group Companies)

 

We are a global business subject to complex economic, legal, political, tax, foreign currency and other risks associated with international operations, which risks may be difficult to adequately address.

 

In 2021, 2022 and first half of 2023, over 90% of our revenues from the Pre-IPO Group were generated from operations outside of the United States. When including the Acquisitions, over 50% of our pro forma revenues for Genius Group for these same periods were generated from operations outside of the United States. Our GeniusU Edtech platform has students in 191 countries, each of which is subject to complex business, economic, legal, political, tax and foreign currency risks. As we continue to expand our international operations with our Acquisitions, we may have difficulty managing and administering a globally dispersed business and we may need to expend additional funds to, among other things, staff key management positions, obtain additional information technology infrastructure and successfully implement relevant course and program offerings for a significant number of international markets, which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Additional challenges associated with the conduct of our business overseas that may materially adversely affect our operating results include:

 

  the large scale and diversity of our operational institutions present numerous challenges, including difficulty in staffing and managing foreign operations as a result of distance, language, legal, labor relations and other differences;
  each of our programs and services are subject to unique business risks and challenges including competitive pressures and diverse pricing environments at the local level;
  difficulty maintaining quality standards consistent with our brands and with local accreditation requirements;
  fluctuations in exchange rates, possible currency devaluations and currency controls, inflation and hyperinflation;
  difficulty selecting and monitoring partners in different jurisdictions;
  compliance with a wide variety of domestic and foreign laws and regulations;
  expropriation of assets by governments;
  political elections and changes in government policies;
  changes in tax laws, assessments or enforcement by taxing authorities in different jurisdictions;
  difficulty protecting our intellectual property rights overseas due to, among other reasons, the uncertainty of laws and enforcement in certain countries relating to the protection of intellectual property rights;
  lower levels of availability or use of the Internet, through which our online programs are delivered;

 

  limitations on the repatriation and investment of funds, foreign currency exchange restrictions and inability to transfer cash back to the United States without taxation;
  potential economic and political instability the countries in which we operate, including student unrest; or
  business interruptions from acts of terrorism, civil disorder, labor stoppages, public health risks, crime and natural disasters, particularly in areas in which we have significant operations.

 

S-15

 

 

Our success in growing our business profitably will depend, in part, on the ability to anticipate and effectively manage these and other risks related to operating in various countries. Any failure by us to effectively manage the challenges associated with the maintenance or expansion of our international operations could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our growth strategy anticipates that we will create new products, services, and distribution channels and expand existing distribution channels. If we are unable to effectively manage these initiatives, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows would be adversely affected.

 

As we create new products, services, and distribution channels and expand our existing distribution channels, we expect to face challenges distinct from those we currently encounter, including:

 

  The challenge of tailoring new products and services to new technologies as they develop, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality;
  Additional local competition as we localize our products and services to different countries, cultures and languages, each with new, local distribution channels;
  Changing student habits as new distribution channels for learning content are developed globally; and
  Unpredictable market behavior as the education market develops new distribution channels for learning outside the traditional school system, including via online courses and virtual learning.

 

Our failure to manage these new distribution channels, or any new distribution channels we pursue, may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Our growth may have a negative effect on the successful expansion of our business, on our people management, and on the increase in complexity of our software and platforms.

 

We are currently experiencing a period of significant expansion and are facing a number of expansion related issues, such as the acquisition and retention of experienced and talented personnel, cash flow management, corporate culture and internal controls, among others. These issues and the significant amount of time spent on addressing them may result in the diversion of our management’s attention from other business issues and opportunities.

 

We anticipate that these expansion related issues will increase with our Acquisitions and future growth. In addition, we believe that our corporate culture and values are critical to our success, and we have invested a significant amount of time and resources building them. If we fail to preserve our corporate culture and values, our ability to recruit, retain and develop personnel and to effectively implement our strategic plans may be harmed.

 

We must constantly update our software and platforms, enhance and improve our billing and transaction and other business systems, and add and train new software designers and engineers, as well as other personnel to help us with the increased use of our platforms and the new solutions and features we regularly introduce.

 

This process is time intensive and expensive and may lead to higher costs in the future. Furthermore, we may need to enter into relationships with various strategic partners, such as online service providers and other third parties necessary to our business. The increased complexity of managing multiple commercial relationships could lead to execution problems that can affect current and future revenue, and operating margins.

 

We cannot assure you that our current and planned platforms, systems, products, procedures and controls, personnel and third-party relationships will be adequate to support our future operations. In addition, our current expansion has placed a significant strain on management and on our operational and financial resources, and this strain is expected to continue. Our failure to manage growth effectively could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

S-16

 

 

If our growth rate decelerates significantly, our prospects and financial results would be adversely affected, preventing us from achieving profitability.

 

We believe that our growth depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to:

 

  Integrate the Acquisitions into the Group;
  Continue to introduce our products and services to new markets;
  Provide high-quality support to students and partnerships using our products and services;
  Expand our business and increase our market share;
  Compete with the products, services, offers, prices and incentives offered by our competitors;
  Develop new products, services, offerings and technologies;
  Identify and acquire or invest in businesses, products, offerings or technologies that we believe may be able to complement or expand our platform; and
  Increase the positive perception of our brands.

 

We may not be successful in achieving the above objectives. Any slowdown in the demand from students, teachers, mentors, and partnerships for our products and services caused by changes in customer preferences, failure to maintain our brands, inability to expand our portfolio of products or services, changes in the global economy, taxes, competition or other factors may lead to a decrease in revenue or growth and our financial results and future prospects could be negatively affected. We expect that we will continue to incur significant expenses as a result of our efforts to continue growing, and if we cannot increase our revenue at a faster rate than the increase in our expenses, we will not be able to achieve profitability.

 

We may be unable to recruit, train and/or retain qualified teachers, mentors, and other skilled professionals.

 

Effective teachers and mentors are critical to maintaining the quality of our learning system and curriculum and assisting students with their lessons. The educational content and materials we provide are a combination of content developed in-house, by our teachers, and our mentors. Teachers and mentors must have strong interpersonal communications skills to be able to effectively instruct students, especially in virtual settings. They must also possess the technical skills to use our technology-based learning systems and be willing to publish their content on our platform.

 

Our requirement for teachers at all levels has increased with the Acquisitions completed. There is a limited pool of qualified individuals with these specialized attributes. We must also provide continuous training to teachers and mentors so that they can stay abreast of changes in student demands, academic standards and other key trends necessary to teach online effectively. We may not be able to recruit, train and retain enough qualified teachers and mentors to keep pace with our growth while maintaining consistent teaching quality and robust platform content.

 

Shortages of qualified teachers or mentors, or decreases in the quality of our instruction or the amount and quality of educational content we can produce and offer as a result, whether actual or perceived, would have an adverse effect on our business.

 

S-17

 

 

Our success also depends in large part on our senior management and key personnel as well as in general upon highly trained finance, technical, recruiting and marketing professionals in order to operate our business, increase revenues from our existing products and services and to launch new product offerings. If any of these employees leave us and we fail to effectively manage a transition to new personnel, or if there is a shortage in the number of people with the requisite skills or we fail to attract and retain qualified and experienced professionals on acceptable terms, our business, financial conditions and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

Our business may be materially adversely affected if we are not able to maintain or improve the content of our existing courses or to develop new courses on a timely basis and in a cost-effective manner.

 

We continually seek to maintain and improve the content of our existing courses and develop new courses in order to meet changing market needs. Revisions to our existing courses and the development of new courses may not be accepted by existing or prospective students in all instances. If we cannot respond effectively to market changes, our business may be materially adversely affected. Even if we are able to develop acceptable new courses, we may not be able to introduce these new courses as quickly as students require or as quickly as our competitors are able to introduce competing courses. If we do not respond adequately to changes in market requirements, our ability to attract and retain students could be impaired and our financial results could suffer. This applies to most of our Pre-IPO Group companies and Acquisitions.

 

Establishing new courses or modifying existing courses also may require us to make investments in specialized personnel and capital expenditures, increase marketing efforts and reallocate resources away from other uses. We may have limited experience with the subject matter of new courses and may need to modify our systems and strategy. If we are unable to increase the number of students, offer new courses in a cost-effective manner or otherwise manage effectively the operations of newly established courses, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

Failure to attract and retain students to enroll in our courses and programs, and to maintain tuition levels, may have a material adverse impact on our business and prospects

 

The success of our business depends primarily on the number of student enrollments in the courses and programs we offer on our platform microschools, and events, and the amount of our course and program fees. As a result, our ability to attract students to enroll in our courses and programs is critical to the continued success and growth of our business. This, in turn, will depend on several factors, including, among others, our ability to develop new educational programs and enhance existing educational programs to respond to the changes in market trends, student demands and government policies, to maintain our consistent and high teaching quality, to market our programs successfully to a broader prospective student base, to develop additional high-quality educational content, sites and availability of our platform and to respond effectively to competitive market pressures.

 

If our students or their parents perceive that our education quality deteriorated due to unsatisfying learning experiences, which may be subject to a number of subjective judgments that we have limited influence over, our overall market reputation may diminish, which in turn may affect our word-of-mouth referrals and ultimately our student enrollment. In addition, the expansion of our offering of courses and services may not succeed due to competition, our failure to effectively market our new courses and services (whether due to defects in our marketing tools and/or failure to adjust our strategy in order to meet the needs of current and potential customers), maintain the quality of our courses and services, or other factors. We may be unable to develop and offer additional educational content on commercially reasonable terms and in a timely manner, or at all, to keep pace with changes in market trends and student demands. If we are unable to control the rate of student attrition, which can be affected by various factors outside our control such as students’ personal circumstances and local socioeconomic factors, our overall enrollment levels are likely to decline or if we are unable to charge tuition rates that are both competitive and cover our rising expenses, our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

If student performance falls or parent and student satisfaction declines, a significant number of students may not remain enrolled in our programs, and our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

The success of our business depends on a family’s decision to have their child continue his or her education through our programs. This decision is based on many factors, including student achievement and parent and student satisfaction. We expect that, as our enrollments increase and the portion of students that have not used our learning system for multiple years increases, the average performance of all students using our learning system may decrease, even if the individual performance of other students improves over time. Additionally, parent and student satisfaction may decline as not all parents and students are able to devote the substantial time and energy necessary to complete our curriculum. A student’s satisfaction may also suffer if his or her relationship with the virtual schoolteacher does not meet expectations. If a student’s performance or satisfaction declines, students may decide not to remain enrolled in one or more of our programs, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

S-18

 

 

Our curriculum and approach to instruction may not achieve widespread acceptance, which would limit our growth and profitability.

 

Our curriculum and approach to instruction are based on students learning how to “create a job” rather than “get a job.” The goal of this approach is to make students entrepreneurs. This approach, however, is not accepted by all students, academics and educators, who may favor more traditional and formalistic methods, along with more traditional course offerings and curriculums. Accordingly, some students, academics and educators are opposed to the principles and methodologies associated with our approach to learning and have the ability to negatively influence the market for our products and services.

 

The continued development of our brand identity is important to our business. If we are not able to maintain and enhance our brand, our business and operating results may suffer.

 

Expanding brand awareness is critical to attracting and retaining students, teachers, and mentors, and for serving additional jurisdictions. We believe that the quality of our curriculum and management services has contributed significantly to the success of our brand. As we continue to increase enrollments and extend our geographic reach, maintaining quality and consistency across all of our services and products may become more difficult to achieve, and any significant and well-publicized failure to maintain this quality and consistency will have a detrimental effect on our brand. We cannot provide assurances that our new sales and marketing efforts will be successful in further promoting our brand in a competitive and cost-effective manner. If we are unable to further enhance our brand recognition and increase awareness of our products and services, or if we incur excessive sales and marketing expenses, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

Each of our companies has worked hard to establish the value of its individual brand. Brand value may be severely damaged, even by isolated incidents, particularly if the incidents receive considerable negative publicity. There has been a marked increase in use of social media platforms, including weblogs (blogs), social media websites, and other forms of Internet-based communications that allow individuals access to a broad audience of interested persons. We believe students and prospective teachers and mentors value readily available information about our companies and programs and often act on such information without further investigation or authentication, and without regard to its accuracy. Social media platforms and devices immediately publish the content their subscribers and participants post, often without filters or checks on the accuracy of the content posted. Information concerning our Company and our programs may be posted on such platforms and devices at any time. Information posted may be materially adverse to our interests, it may be inaccurate, and it may harm our performance and prospects.

 

The risk of damage or dilution of brand identity potentially increases during acquisitions, and this risk has increased since we have completed the Acquisitions and may increase further as we are in the process of integration and expansion.

 

If our partnerships are unable to maintain educational quality, we may be adversely affected.

 

Our partnerships with institutions, such as universities, and other educational providers and their students are regularly assessed and classified under the terms of applicable educational laws and regulations. If the partnerships or students receive lower scores from year to year on any of their assessments, or if there is any drop in the acceptance rates of students into prestigious universities, we may be negatively affected by perceptions of a decline in the educational quality of our content and Edtech platform, which could adversely affect our reputation and, as a result, our operating results and financial condition.

 

S-19

 

 

There is significant competition in the market segments that we serve, and we expect such competition to increase; we may not be able to compete effectively.

 

Education markets around the world are competitive and dynamic. We face varying degrees of competition from several discrete education providers because our learning system integrates many of the elements of the education development and delivery process, including curriculum development, teacher training and support, lesson planning, testing and assessment, and school performance and compliance management. We compete most directly with companies that provide online curriculum and support services. Additionally, we expect increased competition from for-profit post-secondary and supplementary education providers that have begun to offer virtual high school curriculum and services. In certain jurisdictions and states where we currently serve virtual public schools, we expect intense competition from existing providers and new entrants. Our competitors may adopt similar curriculum delivery, school support and marketing approaches, with different pricing and service packages that may have greater appeal in the market. Both public and private not-for-profit institutions with whom we currently or may in the future compete may have instructional and support resources superior to those in the for-profit sector, and public institutions can offer substantially lower tuition prices or other advantages that we cannot match. If we are unable to successfully compete for new business, acquire more companies, or maintain current levels of academic achievement and community interest, our revenue growth and operating margins may decline. Price competition from our current and future competitors could also result in reduced revenues, reduced margins or the failure of our product and service offerings to achieve or maintain more widespread market acceptance.

 

We may also face direct competition from publishers of traditional educational materials that are substantially larger than we are and have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources. As a result, they may be able to devote more resources to develop products and services that are superior to our platform and technologies. We may not have the resources necessary to acquire or compete with technologies being developed by our competitors, which may render our online delivery format less competitive or obsolete.

 

Our future success will depend in large part on our ability to maintain a competitive position with our curriculum and our technology, as well as our ability to increase capital expenditures to sustain the competitive position of our product. We cannot assure you that we will have the financial resources, technical expertise, marketing, distribution or support capabilities to compete effectively.

 

Our business and operations may be adversely affected by economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, including as a result of the military conflict in Ukraine.

 

Our business and results of operations may be adversely affected by various factors that could cause economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, many of which are beyond our control. Our business could be impacted by, among other things, downturns in the financial markets or in economic conditions, increases in oil prices, inflation, increases in interest rates, supply chain disruptions, declines in consumer confidence and spending, and geopolitical instability, such as the military conflict in the Ukraine. We cannot at this time fully predict the likelihood of one or more of the above events, their duration or magnitude or the extent to which they may negatively impact our business.

 

Our business may be materially adversely affected by a general economic slowdown or recession.

 

Many countries around the world have recently experienced reduced economic activity, increased unemployment, and substantial uncertainty about their financial services markets and, in some cases, economic recession. These events may reduce the demand for our programs among students, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. These adverse economic developments also may result in a reduction in the number of jobs available to our graduates and lower salaries being offered in connection with available employment which, in turn, may result in declines in our placement and retention rates. Any general economic slowdown or recession that disproportionately impacts the countries in which our companies and programs operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

S-20

 

 

We may be sued for infringement of the intellectual property rights of others, and such actions would be costly to defend, could require us to pay damages and could limit our ability or increase our costs to use certain technologies in the future.

 

Companies in the Internet, technology, education, curriculum and media industries own large numbers of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets and frequently enter into litigation based on allegations of infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights. As we grow, the likelihood that we may be subject to such claims also increases. Regardless of the merits, intellectual property claims are often time- consuming and expensive to litigate or settle. In addition, to the extent claims against us are successful, we may have to pay substantial monetary damages or discontinue any of our products, services or practices that are found to be in violation of another party’s rights. We also may have to seek a license and make royalty payments to continue offering our products and services or following such practices, which may significantly increase our operating expenses.

 

We cannot assure you that we will not be subject to liability claims for any inaccurate or inappropriate content in our training programs, which could cause us to incur legal costs and damage our reputation.

 

We develop the content for our training programs ourselves or through partnerships with third parties. We cannot assure you that there will be no inaccurate or inappropriate materials included in our training programs or the materials we obtain from our third-party partners. In addition, our mock examination questions designed internally based on our understanding of the relevant examination requirements may be investigated by the regulatory authorities. Therefore, we may face civil, administrative or criminal liability if an individual or corporate, governmental or other entity believes that the content of any of our training programs violate any laws, regulations or governmental policies or infringes upon its legal rights. Even if such claim were not successful, defending it may cause us to incur substantial costs including the time and attention of our management. Moreover, any accusation of inaccurate or inappropriate content could lead to significant negative publicity, which could harm our reputation and future business prospects.

 

We may be subject to legal liability resulting from the actions of third parties, including independent contractors and teachers, which could cause us to incur substantial costs and damage our reputation.

 

We may be subject, directly or indirectly, to legal claims associated with the actions of our independent contractors, teachers, and mentors. In the event of accidents or injuries or other harm to students, we could face claims alleging that we were negligent, provided inadequate supervision or were otherwise liable for their injuries. Additionally, we could face claims alleging that our independent curriculum contractors or teachers infringed the intellectual property rights of third parties. A liability claim against us or any of our independent contractors, teachers, or mentors could adversely affect our reputation, enrollment and revenues. Even if unsuccessful, such a claim could create unfavorable publicity, cause us to incur substantial expenses and divert the time and attention of management.

 

We may not have sufficient insurance to protect ourselves against substantial losses.

 

We have insurance policies to provide coverage against certain potential risks, such as property damage and personal injury, as well as director and officer insurance for our management team. However, we cannot guarantee that our insurance coverage will always be available or will be sufficient to cover possible claims for these risks. In addition, there are certain types of risk that might not be covered by our policies, such as war, acts of nature, force majeure or interruption of certain activities. Moreover, we might be obliged to pay fines and other penalties in the event of delays in product delivery, and such penalties are not covered by our insurance policies. Additionally, we may not be able to renew our current insurance policies under the same terms or at all. Risks not covered by our insurance policies or the inability to renew policies on favorable terms or at all could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry (Specific to Pre-IPO Group)

 

We are a growing company with a limited operating history, and a history of operational losses. If we fail to achieve further marketplace acceptance for our products and services, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

We began enrolling students on our Edtech platform in 2015. As a result, we have only a limited operating history upon which you can evaluate our business and prospects. There can be no assurance that we will reduce our operational losses or achieve profitability as a group in the near future, or that our products and services will achieve further marketplace acceptance. Our marketing efforts may not generate a sufficient number of student enrollments to sustain our business plan; our capital and operating costs may exceed planned levels; and we may be unable to develop and enhance our service offerings to meet the demands of our students and community to the extent that such demands and preferences change. If we are not successful in managing our business and operations, our financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

S-21

 

 

Our Edtech platform is technologically complex, and potential defects in our platforms or in updates to our platforms can be difficult or even impossible to fix.

 

Our Edtech platform is a technically complex product, and, when first introduced to new communities or when upgraded through new versions, may contain software or hardware defects that are difficult to detect and correct. The existence of defects and delays in correcting them can have adverse effects, such as, cancellation of subscriptions, delays in the receipt of payment, poor functioning of our platforms and their content, failure to acquire new students, teachers, or mentors, or misuse of our platforms by third parties.

 

We test new versions and upgrades to our Edtech platform, but we cannot ensure that all defects related to platform updates can be identified before, or even after a new version of our platforms are made available. The correction of defects can be time-consuming, expensive and difficult. Errors and security breaches of our products could expose us to product liability claims and damage our reputation, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

System disruptions, capacity constraints and vulnerability from security risks to our online computer networks could impact our ability to generate revenues and damage our reputation, limiting our ability to attract and retain students.

 

The performance and reliability of our technology infrastructure is critical to our reputation and ability to attract and retain students, teachers, mentors, and our community. Any sustained system error or failure, or a sudden and significant increase in bandwidth usage, could limit access to our learning system, and therefore, damage our ability to generate revenues. Our computer networks may also be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer hackers, computer viruses and other malware, and other security problems.

 

Moreover, we host our products and serve our students, teachers, and mentors from a third-party data center facility, the security, facilities management and communications infrastructure of which we do not control. While we are developing a risk mitigation plan, such a plan may not be able to prevent a significant interruption in the operation of this facility or the loss of school and operational data due to a natural disaster, fire, power interruption, act of terrorism or other unanticipated catastrophic event, or arising from other financial, technical or operational difficulties encountered by our third-party vendor. Any such significant interruption, including one caused by our failure to successfully expand or upgrade our systems or manage our transition to utilizing the expansions or upgrades, could reduce our ability to manage our network and technological infrastructure and provide uninterrupted service, or be the occasion of loss or theft of important customer data, any of which could result in liability, business interruption, lost sales, enrollment terminations and reputational harm to us.

 

Our current success and future growth depend on the continued acceptance of the Internet and the corresponding growth in users seeking educational services on the Internet.

 

Our business relies in part on the Internet for its success. A number of factors could inhibit the continued acceptance of the Internet, or the commercial viability of the Internet’s material role in our business model, and adversely affect our profitability, including:

 

  Inadequate Internet infrastructure;
  Security and privacy concerns;
  The unavailability of cost-effective Internet service and other technological factors; and
  Changes in U.S. or foreign government regulation of Internet use, which may relate to issues such as online privacy, copyrights, trademarks and service marks, sales taxes, fair business practices, and requirements that online education institutions qualify to do business as foreign corporations or be licensed in one or more jurisdictions where they have no physical location or other presence.

 

S-22

 

 

If Internet use decreases, if the number of Internet users seeking educational services on the Internet does not increase, or if we become subject to material additional costs as a result of regulatory changes affecting online education businesses, our business may not grow as planned.

 

We are susceptible to the illegal or improper use of our content, Edtech and platform (whether from students, teachers, mentors, management personnel and other employees, or third parties), or other forms of misconduct, which could expose us to liability and damage our business and brand.

 

Our content, Edtech and platform are susceptible to unauthorized use, software license violations, copyright violations and unauthorized copying and distribution, theft, employee fraud and other similar infractions and violations. Because we do not have full control over how even authorized users will use our online platforms to communicate, such platforms may be misused for improper, malicious, objectionable or illegal purposes. Such occurrences (whether originating from students, teachers, mentors, management personnel and other employees, or third parties) can harm our business and consequently negatively affect our operating results. We could be required to expend significant additional resources to deter, police against and combat improper use of our content, Edtech and platform, and still may be unsuccessful in preventing such occurrences or identifying those responsible for any such misuse. Any failure to adequately protect against any such illegal or improper use of our content, Edtech and platform could expose us to liability or reputational harm and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our brand image, reputation, business and results of operations may also be adversely affected by other forms of illegal or improper activities of our management personnel and other employees, such as intentionally failing to comply with government regulations, engaging in deceptive business and marketing practices, improper use of personal or sensitive information, or violations of anticorruption or similar laws. The precautions we take to prevent and detect such activities may not be effective in preventing or mitigating them. Even where such activities are unrelated to our business or the services provided by our management personnel or other employees to us, they may harm our brands and reputation.

 

We may be unable to manage and adapt to changes in technology.

 

We will need to respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards in a cost-effective and timely manner in order to remain competitive. The need to respond to technological changes may require us to make substantial, unanticipated expenditures. There can be no assurance that we will be able to respond successfully to technological change.

 

We must monitor and protect our Internet domain names to preserve their value.

 

We own a wide range of domain names including our Edtech platform, www.geniusu.com (information contained on, or available through, such website does not constitute part of, and is not deemed incorporated by reference into, this Prospectus). Third parties may acquire substantially similar domain names that decrease the value of our domain names and trademarks and other proprietary rights which may hurt our business. The regulation of domain names in the United States and foreign countries is subject to change.

 

Governing bodies could appoint additional domain name registrars or modify the requirements for holding domain names. Governing bodies could also establish additional “top-level” domains, which are the portion of the Web address that appears to the right of the “dot,” such as “com,” “gov,” or “org.” As a result, we may not maintain exclusive rights to all potentially relevant domain names in the United States or in other countries in which we conduct business.

 

S-23

 

 

Increases in labor costs, labor shortages, and any difficulties in attracting, motivating, and retaining well- qualified employees within the hospitality industry could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations for our resorts and cafes.

 

Labor is a significant component in the cost of operating our operations. If we face labor shortages, particularly due to recent labor shortages in the hospitality industry as a result of the pandemic, increased labor costs because of increased competition for employees, higher employee turnover rates, inefficiency in scheduling our employees, increases in local minimum wage, or other employee benefits costs (including costs associated with health insurance coverage), our operating expenses could increase and our growth could be negatively impacted. Our success depends in part upon our ability to attract, motivate, and retain a sufficient number of well-qualified resort and cafe operators and management personnel, as well as a sufficient number of other qualified employees, including customer service and kitchen staff, to align with our expansion plans and multi-channel approach. Because of the busy nature of our restaurants, it is critical that we have a high level of labor productivity and if we do not maintain high engagement or deployment in our restaurants (including in new restaurants and in new markets), it could have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry (Specific to Acquisitions)

 

As we have completed the Acquisitions, we may continue pursue other strategic acquisitions or investments. The failure of an acquisition or investment (including but not limited to the Acquisitions) to be completed or to produce the anticipated results, or the inability to fully integrate an acquired company, could harm our business.

 

We may from time to time, as opportunities arise or economic conditions permit, acquire or invest in complementary companies or businesses as part of our strategy to expand our operations, including through acquisitions or investments that may be material in size and/or of strategic relevance. The success of an acquisition or investment will depend on our ability to make accurate assumptions regarding the valuation, operations, growth potential, integration and other factors related to that business. We cannot assure you that our acquisitions or investments will produce the results that we expect at the time we enter into or complete a given transaction.

 

Any acquisition or investment involves a series of risks and challenges that could adversely affect our business, including the failure of such acquisition to contribute to our commercial strategy or improve our image. We may be unable to generate the expected returns and synergies on our investments. In addition, the amortization of acquired intangible assets could decrease our net profit and potential dividends. We may face challenges in integrating acquired companies, which may result in the diversion of our capital and our management’s attention from other business issues and opportunities. We may be unable to create and implement uniform and effective controls, procedures and policies, and we may incur increased costs for integrating systems, people, distribution methods or operating procedures.

 

We may also be unable to integrate technologies of acquired businesses or retain key customers, executives and staff of the businesses acquired. In particular, we may face challenges in integrating staff working across different geographies and that may be accustomed to different corporate cultures, which would result in strained relations among existing and new personnel. We could also face challenges in negotiating favorable collective bargaining agreements with unions due to differences in the negotiating procedures used in different regions. Finally, we may pursue acquisitions where we acquire a majority stake in such acquisition, but with significant minority investors, or we may become minority investors in certain operations, wherein our ability to effectively control and manage the business may be limited. If we are unable to manage growth through acquisitions, our business and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

 

In addition, in connection with any future acquisition, we may face liabilities for contingencies related to, among others, (1) legal and/or administrative proceedings of the acquired company, including civil, regulatory, labor, tax, social security, environmental and intellectual property proceedings, and (2) financial, reputational and technical problems including those related to accounting practices, disclosures in financial statements and internal controls, as well as other regulatory issues. These contingencies may not have been identified prior to the acquisition and may not be sufficiently indemnifiable under the terms of the relevant acquisition agreement, which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Even if contingencies are indemnifiable under the relevant acquisition agreement, the agreed levels of indemnity may not be sufficient to cover actual contingencies as they materialize.

 

S-24

 

 

The continued success of our Acquisitions depends initially on the value of the local brands of each of the companies and how we integrate those brands with Genius Group and GeniusU, which may be materially adversely affected by changes in current and prospective students’ perceptions post-acquisition.

 

Each of our Acquisitions has worked hard to establish the value of their individual brands. A merger or acquisition is a significant event in any company’s history, which may cause concern or trigger potentially negative commentary or criticism whether by staff members, students or local communities. The perception of the changes and improvements we intend to implement with each Acquisition may have unintended consequences which impact on the current brand value and reputation of each Acquisition. This may be materially adverse to our interests, it may be inaccurate, and it may harm our performance, prospects and business.

 

Growing the certified education courses offered by our Acquisitions could be difficult for us.

 

We anticipate significant future growth from online courses we offer to students on GeniusU, integrating with our Acquisitions. The expansion of our existing online programs, the creation of new online programs and the development of new fully online or hybrid programs may not be accepted by students or our partners, or by government regulators or accreditation agencies. In addition, our efforts may be materially adversely affected by increased competition in the online education market or because of problems with the performance or reliability of our online program infrastructure. There is also increasing development of certified online programs by traditional schools and universities, both in the public and private sectors, which may have more consumer acceptance than programs we develop, because of lower pricing or greater perception of value of their degrees in the marketplace, which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our Acquisitions are subject to uncertain and varying laws and regulations, and any changes to these laws or regulations may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Three of our Acquisitions are regulated to varying degrees and in different ways in each of the countries in which we operate an institution: Education Angels, E-Square and UAV have licenses, approvals, authorizations, or accreditations from various governmental authorities and accrediting bodies. These licenses, approvals, authorizations, and accreditations must be renewed periodically, usually after an evaluation of the institution by the relevant governmental authorities or accrediting bodies. These periodic evaluations could result in limitations, restrictions, conditions, or withdrawal of such licenses, approvals, authorizations or accreditations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, once licensed, approved, authorized or accredited, some of our institutions may need approvals for new campuses or to add new degree programs.

 

All of these regulations and their applicable interpretations are subject to change based on changing rules and regulations over time in each country where we operate. Changes in applicable regulations may cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Regulatory changes that affect the timing of government-sponsored student aid payments or receipt of government-sponsored financial aid could materially adversely affect our liquidity.

 

Two of our Acquisitions, Education Angels and UAV, receive funding from the New Zealand and US Government, respectively. Education Angels receives funding from the New Zealand Government for 50% of educator fees based on approval by the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Students at UAV may qualify for financial aid funding through state and federal agencies. The majority of financial aid available to UAV students is provided by the Federal Government and referred to as Title IV Aid. This includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Direct Loan Program, and Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). Also, students may be eligible to participate in institutional or private loan programs that enable students to contribute to his/her education while in college, and the university is also eligible to participate in several state agency programs.

 

S-25

 

 

Should the governments in these countries, or in the countries of future acquisitions, change regulations that impact the timing or receipt of government-sponsored student aid, this could materially adversely affect our liquidity as well as our business and results of operations, and in turn affect our enrolment numbers.

 

The changing public perception and changes to government policies with respect to private schools may have a materially adverse impact on our Acquisitions and our overall plans to expand in the early learning, primary school, secondary school and university markets.

 

The views taken by students, parents and the government on private schools vary from country to country and change over time. China imposed restrictions on education companies that operated private tuition centers and Edtech companies providing private tutors in 2021. This included a broad ban on private companies that teach the Chinese school curriculum from making profits, raising capital or going public. While China’s actions against private education institutions did not directly impact our Pre-IPO Group or Acquisitions, as less than 1% of group revenues is generated from Chinese students, it is an indication of the negative impact a country can impose on private education and there is a risk that other countries may follow a similar path. For example, the Indian government has expressed concern about the rapid growth of for- profit, private education in the country. While this has not yet led to any restrictive regulations, it has resulted in India’s largest private Edtech startups setting up a self-regulatory industry group to draw up a code of conduct to present to the government.

 

In the United States, the Biden Administration has indicated that it wants higher scrutiny of for-profit colleges and universities to ensure higher standards are met in order to qualify for government funding. While there have not yet been any concrete actions taken by the government in this regard, should such actions be taken and imposed, this may materially adversely affect the revenues of our Acquisition, UAV, in the event the university is not able to meet any new standards imposed. Any other such restrictions imposed in the future by governments in the countries where we plan to expand to with our Acquisitions, or any negative changes in public perception towards for-profit education companies in contrast to non-profit schools may negatively affect our Acquisitions’ and Genius Group’s business, financial condition and results of operation.

 

The poor performance or reputation of other early learning schools or the industry as a whole could tarnish the reputation of our Acquisition, Education Angels, which could have a negative impact on its business.

 

With reference specifically to our Acquisition, Education Angels, the company operates in a sector which does not have the same level of oversight as Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education. For example, in most countries, including the U.S., license requirements to operate a childcare business vary from state to state, while education standards during early learning are relatively relaxed when compared to the accreditation and other standards required of primary schools, high schools and universities.

 

Similarly, while educators at primary school, high school and university must be qualified as faculty, the standards within early learning are more relaxed, with some childcare workers or assistants in the industry having few qualifications. This may result in poor performance of some early learning operators, or in the early learning industry as a whole suffering from a poor reputation, and this in turn my cause a material adverse effect on Education Angels’ business and our ability to expand our early learning operations in certain countries or states.

 

Changes in the demand for childcare and workplace solutions, which may be negatively affected by demographic trends and economic conditions, including unemployment rates, may affect our Acquisition, Education Angels.

 

The target market for our Acquisition, Education Angels, is dual-income families or working single parents who are seeking an early learning solution for their child that includes childcare. Different countries have different funding programs for early learning and childcare, but in most cases the parents are required to pay for some or all childcare services. As a result, Education Angels is and will continue to be dependent on this demographic segment to maintain and grow revenues. Changes in demographic trends, including the number of dual-income or working single parent families in the workforce, inflation, personal disposable income and birth rates may impact the demand for Education Angels’ services.

 

S-26

 

 

Further, a deterioration of general economic conditions, including rising unemployment, may adversely impact the demand for our services due to the tendency of out-of-work parents to diminish or discontinue utilization of our services. Such changes could materially and adversely affect Education Angels’ business and operating results.

 

The expansion of our Acquisition, Education Angels, into certain markets including the United States may be negatively impacted by increased competition based on changes in government regulation and benefit programs.

 

Countries from time-to-time change regulations with respect to childcare and early learning and while this may have a positive impact on our Acquisition, Education Angels, it may also have a negative impact. For example, in the U.S., President Biden has recently proposed publicly funded universal preschool for all three- and four-year-olds in partnerships with the states. The initial legislative drafts of the President’s proposal for a new federally funded preschool program allow private, for-profit entities to be eligible for participation, but do not mandate such participation. It is unclear how the proposed legislation will progress in the current political and fiscal climate, or how the states would implement the programs. Public programs such as this have the ability to either expand or shrink Education Angels’ ability to serve children in a country such as the U.S. The amount of public funding, the rates paid for early education programs, our eligibility to be a provider and the terms and conditions of the programs could have either a positive or negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

For example, in the U.S., federal, state or local childcare and early education benefit programs relying primarily on subsidies in the form of tuition assistance or tax credits could provide us with opportunities for expansion in new or existing markets. However, a federal, state or local universal benefit such as preschool, if offered primarily or exclusively through public schools or non-profit entities, could reduce the demand for private home-based education services and negatively impact the financial and operational model that we plan to expand with Education Angels. If such programs were to significantly expand or our participation is reduced, it could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our Acquisition, E-Square, may be negatively affected by the economic and political conditions in South Africa.

 

Our Acquisition, E-Square, operates in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and relies on the ongoing economic health and political stability of that country. In recent years South Africa has been affected by a weak economy and political instability. This deterioration in conditions was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is expecting to register economic growth of 1.1% for 2023. Such deterioration of general economic conditions, including rising inflation and unemployment, may decrease demand for E-Square’s courses and services as parents opt for lower cost alternatives. Such changes could materially and adversely affect E-Square’s business and operating results.

 

Public perception and regulatory changes in the primary school and secondary school systems in countries that E-Square may expand to may have a materially adverse impact on the company.

 

The primary school and second school systems in countries where we plan to expand the courses and programs of our Acquisition, E-Square, are undergoing changes in public perception together with regulatory changes. For example, in the United Kingdom, government funding of schools has dropped 8% in the last decade and public confidence in the high school exam system dropped during the COVID-19 Pandemic after the government abolished all exams in 2020 and replaced them with teacher assessments.

 

In August 2020 the government then used computer algorithms to reject 39% of teacher recommendations and downgrade student marks, and this decision was in itself then overturned with the government reverting back to teacher assessments. Such mismanagement and the resulting negative impact experienced by students and parents can lead to a negative perception and mistrust of the education system as a whole.

 

While countries such as the United States may not have experienced mismanagement on the scale of the United Kingdom, there are signs that there is increasing mistrust of the current primary school and high school system by parents, with discontent ranging from the conduct of school boards and the policies of school districts to the content and the quality of education provided. The possible negative public perception of the primary school and secondary school system as a whole can be seen as an opportunity for companies that can provide a superior offering to parents and students, but it also can be a risk that may adversely affect E-Square’s ability to expand into markets where all schools, including new entrants, are appealing to a skeptical market with a low level of trust.

 

S-27

 

 

Our growth plans for our Acquisition, E-Square, and our plans to expand into the primary school and high school markets will be a complex and lengthy process where future success is not assured.

 

We believe that the growth of our Pre-IPO Group has been supported by our strategy of focusing on adult entrepreneur training where government regulation and curriculum requirements are far more relaxed than in the primary school and high school sectors. We believe the main reason that there has not been a well- known and well-branded new global curriculum developed and accepted internationally since the International Baccalaureate system in 1968 is the complex combination of government regulations, accreditations and curriculum standards that must be met across multiple countries, together with the varying expectations of parents, students, employers, colleges and universities as to what these schools must deliver.

 

We have a staged growth plan which we explain in the “Our Genius Curriculum” section in this Prospectus, in which we plan to begin by providing E-Square’s courses as supplementary courses to the existing school system, delivered on the GeniusU platform, and in which we view our aspiration of delivering our Genius Curriculum as a potential replacement option to the existing primary school and high school system in countries we expand to, similar to how E-Square operates in South Africa, as a longer term goal. However, this plan may be more complex and lengthier than we anticipate and based on the obstacles we face in the future as we expand globally the future success of E-Square’s growth is not assured.

 

If we cannot maintain student enrollments and maintain tuition levels in our Acquisition, UAV, the university’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

Our Acquisition, UAV, has historically been dependent on students from the Lancaster Valley and Greater Los Angeles area for enrolments. We plan to expand on the student base by both attracting students globally to attend UAV and to deliver UAV’s courses on the GeniusU platform. We are, however, planning for UAV to maintain its current student enrollment and tuition levels through the same methods it has employed historically.

 

As a result, our strategy for growth and profitability of UAV depends, in part, upon maintaining these historic levels. Attrition rates are often due to factors outside our control. Students sometimes face financial, personal or family constraints that require them to drop out of university. They also are affected by local economic and social problems. In addition, our ability to attract and retain students to UAV may require us to discount tuition from published levels, and may prevent us from increasing tuition levels at a rate consistent with inflation and increases in our costs.

 

Post COVID-19 pandemic, in the financial year 2021 and 2022, UAV saw a decline in its revenue. If we are unable to control the rate of student attrition, our overall enrollment levels are likely to decline or if we are unable to charge tuition rates that are both competitive and cover our rising expenses, our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

The reputation of our Acquisition, UAV, may be negatively influenced by the actions of other for-profit and private universities.

 

In recent years, there have been a number of regulatory investigations and civil litigation matters targeting post-secondary for-profit education institutions in the United States. These investigations and lawsuits have alleged, among other things, deceptive trade practices, false claims against the United States and noncompliance with state and DOE regulations. These allegations have attracted adverse media coverage and have been the subject of federal and state legislative hearings and investigations in the United States and in other countries. Allegations against the post-secondary for-profit and private education sectors may affect general public perceptions of for-profit and private educational institutions, including UAV, in a negative manner. Adverse media coverage regarding other for-profit or private educational institutions or regarding us directly or indirectly could damage our reputation, reduce student demand for our programs, materially adversely affect our revenues and operating profit or result in increased regulatory scrutiny.

 

S-28

 

 

The university and vocational college market is very competitive, and we may not be able to achieve our growth plans with UAV.

 

The university and vocational college markets, both in the United States and around the world, are highly fragmented and are very competitive and dynamic. Currently our Acquisition, UAV, competes with traditional public and private colleges and universities and other proprietary institutions, including those that offer online professional-oriented programs. Many of these institutions are larger, more widely known and have more established reputations than UAV. Some of our competitors in both the public and private sectors may have greater financial and other resources than we have and have operated in their markets for many years.

 

We also anticipate potential competition from Edtech companies that prioritize open access education to students at university or certification level. A number of these providers have been formed recently to provide online curriculum from leading academics at little or no cost to the student. If this new modality is successful, it could disrupt the economics of the current education model (both for-profit and not-for-profit institutions). Other competitors may include large, well-capitalized companies that may pursue a strategy similar to ours of acquiring or establishing for-profit institutions.

 

Public institutions receive substantial government subsidies, and public and private not-for-profit institutions have access to government and foundation grants, tax-deductible contributions and other financial resources generally not available to for-profit institutions. Accordingly, public and private not-for-profit institutions may have instructional and support resources superior to those in the for-profit sector, and public institutions can offer substantially lower tuition prices or other advantages that we cannot match.

 

Any of these large, well-capitalized competitors may make it more difficult for us to expand UAV as part of our growth strategy. They may also be able to charge lower tuitions or attract more students, which would adversely affect our growth and the profitability of UAV. There is also an increased ability of traditional universities to offer online programs and we expect competition to increase as the online market matures. This may create greater pricing or operating pressure on us, which could have a material adverse effect on UAV’s enrollments, revenues and profit margins. We may not be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors and may face competitive pressures that could have a material adverse effect on UAV’s business and the financial condition and results of operations for UAV and the operations of Genius Group focused on the university sector.

 

If the graduates of our Acquisition, UAV, are unable to obtain professional licenses or certifications required for employment in their chosen fields of study, the university’s reputation may suffer and we may face declining enrollments and revenues or be subject to student litigation.

 

UAV’s students require or desire professional licenses or certifications after graduation to obtain employment in their chosen fields. Their success in obtaining such qualifications depends on several factors, including the individual merits of the student, whether the institution and the program were approved by the relevant government or by a professional association, whether the program from which the student graduated meets all governmental requirements and whether the institution is accredited. If one or more governmental authorities refuses to recognize UAV’s graduates for professional qualifications in the future based on factors relating to us or our programs, the potential growth of our programs would be negatively affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we could be exposed to litigation that would force us to incur legal and other expenses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

If the graduates of UAV do not meet possible future standards of “gainful employment”, this may negatively affect the university’s reputation and access to government funding.

 

The Biden Administration has recently expressed interest in reinstating the “Gainful Employment Rule” as a measure to hold universities and colleges accountable for both the employment and earnings of graduating students. The Gainful Employment Rule was first issued in 2014 and was designed to ensure that career- education programs leave their graduates with debts that are affordable relative to their actual incomes. It distinguishes between programs that provide affordable training that leads to well-paying jobs and those that do not, based on the debt-to-income ratios of their graduates.

 

This rule was rescinded by the previous US administration in 2019. The Biden Administration has proposed to reimpose the rule as a measure by which the government may assess whether a university or college qualifies for federal funding. While no specifics have yet been agreed or proposed, if such a rule was imposed, it would require all higher education institutions, including UAV, to provide the government with information on completion rates, debt and other trends by program, with the possibility that government funding may become restricted should thresholds not be met. In the event that UAV were to fall below any threshold set, this may negatively affect the university’s reputation or ability to access government funding, which in term could have a material adverse effect on UAV’s business, financial conditions and results of operation.

 

S-29

 

 

Growing the online academic programs of UAV on GeniusU could be difficult for us.

 

After the acquisition of UAV, we anticipate a higher future growth from online courses we offer to students from the second half of 2023. The expansion of our existing online programs, the creation of new online programs and the development of new fully online or hybrid programs may not be accepted by students or employers, or by government regulators or accreditation agencies. In addition, our efforts may be materially adversely affected by increased competition in the online education market or because of problems with the performance or reliability of our online program infrastructure. There is also increasing development of online programs by traditional universities, both in the public and private sectors, which may have more consumer acceptance than programs we develop, because of lower pricing or greater perception of value of their degrees in the marketplace, which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

If for-profit universities and colleges, which offer online education alternatives different from ours, perform poorly, it could tarnish the reputation of online education as a whole, which could impair UAV’s ability to grow its business.

 

For-profit universities, many of which provide course offerings predominantly online, are under intense regulatory and other scrutiny, which has led to media attention that has sometimes portrayed that sector in an unflattering light. Some for-profit online school operators have been subject to governmental investigations alleging the misuse of public funds, financial irregularities, and failure to achieve positive outcomes for students, including the inability to obtain employment in their fields.

 

These allegations have attracted significant adverse media coverage and have prompted legislative hearings and regulatory responses. These investigations have focused on specific companies and individuals, and even entire industries in the case of recruiting practices by for-profit higher education companies. Even though we believe we can educate students and partners on our unique differences and culture that sets us apart from these companies, this negative media attention may nevertheless add to skepticism about online higher education generally, including our solutions.

 

The precise impact of these negative public perceptions on our current and future business is difficult to discern. If these few situations, or any additional misconduct, cause all Edtech and online learning programs to be viewed by the public or policymakers unfavorably, we may find it difficult to grow UAV or attract additional students for UAV’s programs. In addition, this perception could serve as the impetus for more restrictive legislation, which could limit our future business opportunities. Moreover, allegations of abuse of federal financial aid funds and other statutory violations against for-profit higher education companies could negatively impact our opportunity to succeed due to increased regulation and decreased demand. Any of these factors could negatively impact our ability to grow UAV and the university and vocational college segment of our business.

 

Our growth plans for UAV and our plans to expand into the university and vocational college market in the United States and globally is a complex and lengthy process, exposing us to risks inherent in international growth.

 

One element of our growth strategy for UAV is to expand our international operations and establish a worldwide student base. We cannot guarantee that our expansion efforts into international markets will be successful. The challenges in expanding the UAV model include the complexity of converting elements of UAV’s degree courses and certification courses into a suitable form on the GeniusU Edtech platform, the need to gain accreditation and licenses in the various states and countries where this is required, and our ability to attract enough suitably qualified faculty to deliver the courses both online and on campus.

 

We have a staged growth plan for UAV which we explain in the “Our Genius Curriculum” section in this Prospectus, in which we aim to grow gradually within the university and college sector through a gradual, staged process to ensure we overcome these challenges effectively as we grow. However, this plan may be more complex and lengthier than we anticipate and based on the obstacles we face in the future as we expand globally the future success of UAV’s growth is not assured.

 

S-30

 

 

The course content of our Acquisition, PIN, requires ongoing updating based on the current government regulations and market conditions of the property market.

 

The course content delivered by the Pre-IPO Group has historically been focused on entrepreneur skills, and while the courses are refreshed annually, the majority of the leadership, sales, marketing, team development and financial management skills that are taught remain relevant from one year to the next. Our Acquisition, PIN, has thrived by running courses and events where students can learn the most current strategies that property investors are applying effectively to build their property portfolio. These strategies tend to be more dynamic based on changing market trends, interest rates, financing opportunities and changes in government policies, incentives and restrictions.

 

While this has historically been an opportunity for PIN, as its locally based city event model led by experienced property investors has enabled it to deliver more relevant, up-to-date training and information than nationally delivered property investing courses, this requirement to continually update and localize course content is a risk to the growth of PIN. If the company fails to innovate or maintain its relevance in its course content, this may negatively affect the company’s financial conditions and results of operation.

 

The wide range of differences between the property markets in different countries may make it challenging for PIN to achieve its global expansion plan.

 

While PIN has an online student base that is in 52 countries, it has historically operated its events and city-based investor communities only in the United Kingdom. This has been partly due to its focus on the United Kingdom market, and partly due to the complexities of providing specific, practical market knowledge of the property markets in different countries. Our plan is to expand PIN’s locally based model to countries throughout the world with our GeniusU Edtech platform and global community. This plan is dependent on us replicating PIN’s success in attracting locally based property investors and professionals who are willing to share their expertise, experience and opportunities in the countries we expand to. This may be more complex or take more time than we anticipate, which in turn may negatively affect our expansion plans and our results of operation.

 

The reputation of PIN may be negatively influenced by the actions of other property investing training companies and courses.

 

In recent years, there have been a number of regulatory investigations and civil litigation matters targeting unethical or unprofessional training companies or individuals providing advice on property investing or property trading. These have occurred in the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.

 

These investigations and lawsuits have alleged, among other things, deceptive trade practices, false claims and unregulated financial advice. These allegations have attracted adverse media coverage and have been the subject of federal and state legislative hearings and investigations in the United States and in other countries. Allegations against this investment education sector and the actions of certain companies in this sector may affect general public perceptions towards the sector in a negative manner. Adverse media coverage regarding other training companies or regarding PIN directly or indirectly could damage our reputation, reduce student demand for our programs, materially adversely affect our revenues and operating profit or result in increased regulatory scrutiny.

 

Change of users behavior post Covid may impact our ability to continue and gain interest around our generated content at a level during Covid, which might translate to lower number of users and revenue.

 

Revealed Films generates multiple content films during the year, and sells them to specific audiences. Possible change of those user behaviors, post Covid, who spend less time in front of digital media, might impact Revealed film’s ability to continue and generate interest around its newly published content which will translate to lower number of users and revenue. The possible decline in revenue may also reduce the planned investment in new content that supports our lifelong learning curriculum.

 

S-31

 

 

Taxing authorities may successfully assert that we have not properly collected or remitted, or in the future should collect or remit, sales and use, gross receipts, value added, or similar taxes, or employment, payroll, or withholding taxes, and may successfully impose additional obligations on us, and any such assessments, obligations, or inaccuracies could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

The application of non-income, or indirect, taxes, such as sales and use tax, value-added tax, goods and services tax, business tax, and gross receipt tax, to businesses like ours is an evolving issue. Significant judgment is required on an ongoing basis to evaluate applicable tax obligations, and as a result, amounts recorded are estimates and are subject to adjustments. In many cases, the ultimate tax determination is uncertain because it is not clear how new and existing statutes might apply to our business. In addition, governments are looking for ways to increase revenue, which has resulted in discussions about tax reform and other legislative action to increase tax revenue, including through indirect taxes. Such taxes could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. We are subject to indirect taxes, such as sales, use, value-added, and goods and services taxes, in the United States and other foreign jurisdictions, and we do not collect and remit indirect taxes in all jurisdictions in which we operate on the basis that such indirect taxes are not applicable to us. Certain jurisdictions in which we do not collect and remit such taxes may assert that such taxes are applicable, which could result in tax assessments, including penalties and interest, and we may be required to collect such taxes in the future. A successful assertion by one or more tax authorities requiring us to collect taxes in jurisdictions in which we do not currently do so or to collect additional taxes in a jurisdiction in which we currently collect taxes could result in substantial tax liabilities, including taxes on past sales, as well as penalties and interest, could discourage the use of our platform, could increase the cost for consumers using our platform, or could otherwise harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Further, even when we are collecting taxes and remitting them to the appropriate authorities, we may fail to accurately calculate, collect, report, and remit such taxes. Additionally, one or more states, localities, or other taxing jurisdictions may seek to impose additional reporting, record-keeping, or indirect tax collection obligations on businesses like ours. For example, taxing authorities in the United States and other countries have identified ecommerce platforms as a means to calculate, collect, and remit indirect taxes for transactions taking place over the internet, and are considering related legislation. As a result of these and other factors, the ultimate amount of tax obligations owed may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements and any such difference may adversely affect our results of operations in future periods in which we change our estimates of our tax obligations or in which the ultimate tax outcome is determined.

 

Risks Related to Investing in a Foreign Private Issuer or a Singapore Company

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain requirements under the NYSE American listing standards. This may afford less protection to holders of our ordinary shares than U.S. regulations.

 

As a foreign private issuer whose ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE American, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain requirements under the NYSE American listing standards. A foreign private issuer must disclose in its Prospectus filed with the SEC each requirement under the NYSE American listing standards with which it does not comply, followed by a description of its applicable home country practice. Our home country practices in Singapore may afford less protection to holders of our ordinary shares. We rely on exemptions available under the NYSE American listing standards to a foreign private issuer and follow our home country practices in the future, and as a result, you may not be provided with the benefits of certain corporate governance requirements of the NYSE American listing standards. We currently rely on such an exemption with respect to our quorum requirement for shareholder meetings, such that we will not be in compliance with the NYSE American’s standard of a quorum of at least 33 1∕3% of shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less detailed than those of a U.S. issuer.

 

We report under the Exchange Act as a foreign private issuer. Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. public companies, including: the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events. In addition, we will not be required to provide as detailed disclosure as a U.S. registrant, particularly in the area of executive compensation. It is possible that some investors may not be as interested in investing in our ordinary shares as the securities of a U.S. registrant that is required to provide more frequent and detailed disclosure in certain areas, which could adversely affect our share price.

 

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We may lose our foreign private issuer status, which would then require us to comply with the Exchange Act’s domestic reporting regime and cause us to incur additional legal, accounting and other expenses.

 

In order to maintain our current status as a foreign private issuer, either (1) a majority of our ordinary shares must be either directly or indirectly owned of record by non-residents of the United States or (2) (a) a majority of our executive officers or directors must not be U.S. citizens or residents, (b) more than 50 percent of our assets cannot be located in the United States and (c) our business must be administered principally outside the United States. If we lost this status, we would be required to comply with the Exchange Act reporting and other requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, which are more detailed and extensive than the requirements for foreign private issuers, including, but not limited to preparing our financial statements under GAAP. We may also be required to make changes in our corporate governance practices in accordance with various SEC rules and the NYSE American listing standards. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws if we are required to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to a U.S. domestic issuer may be higher than the cost we would incur as a foreign private issuer. As a result, we expect that a loss of foreign private issuer status would increase our legal and financial compliance costs. We also expect that if we were required to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, it would make it more difficult and expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance. These rules and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified Board members.

 

We are a Singapore incorporated company and it may be difficult to enforce a judgment of U.S. courts for civil liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws against us, our directors or officers in Singapore.

 

We are incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Singapore, and certain of our directors are residents outside the United States. Moreover, a significant portion of our consolidated assets are located outside of the United States. Although we are incorporated outside the United States, we have agreed to accept service of process in the United States through our agent designated for that purpose. Nevertheless, because a majority of the consolidated assets owned by us are located outside of the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us may not be enforceable within the United States.

 

There is no treaty in force between the United States and Singapore providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters and a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any federal or state court in the United States based on civil liability, whether or not predicated solely upon the federal securities laws, would, therefore, not be automatically enforceable in Singapore. There is uncertainty as to whether judgments of courts in the United States based upon the civil liability of the federal securities laws of the United States would be recognized or enforceable in Singapore. In addition, holders of book-entry interests in our shares (for example, where such shareholders hold our shares indirectly through the Depository Trust Company) will be required to be registered shareholders as reflected in our register of members in order to have standing to bring a shareholder action and, if successful, to enforce a foreign judgment against us, our directors or our executive officers in the Singapore courts.

 

The administrative process of becoming a registered shareholder could result in delays prejudicial to any legal proceedings or enforcement action. Consequently, it may be difficult for investors to enforce against us, our directors or our officers in Singapore judgments obtained in the United States which are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States.

 

S-33

 

 

We are incorporated in Singapore and our shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests than they would as shareholders of a corporation incorporated in the United States.

 

Our corporate affairs are governed by our constitution and by the laws governing companies incorporated in Singapore. The rights of our shareholders and the responsibilities of our Board members under Singapore law may be different from those applicable to a corporation incorporated in the United States in material respects. Principal shareholders of Singapore companies do not owe fiduciary duties to minority shareholders, as compared, for example, to controlling shareholders in corporations incorporated in Delaware. Our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in connection with actions taken by our management, our Board members or our principal shareholders than they would as shareholders of a corporation incorporated in the United States.

 

In addition, only persons who are registered as shareholders in our register of members are recognized under Singapore law as shareholders of our Company. Only registered shareholders have legal standing to institute shareholder actions against us or otherwise seek to enforce their rights as shareholders. Investors in our shares who are not specifically registered as shareholders in our register of members (for example, where such shareholders hold shares indirectly through the Depository Trust Company) are required to become registered as shareholders in our register of members in order to institute or enforce any legal proceedings or claims against us, our directors or our executive officers relating to shareholder rights. Holders of book-entry interests in our shares may become registered shareholders by exchanging their book-entry interests in our shares for certificated shares and being registered in our register of members. Such process could result in administrative delays which may be prejudicial to any legal proceeding or enforcement action.

 

We are subject to the laws of Singapore, which differ in certain material respects from the laws of the United States.

 

As a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Singapore, we are required to comply with the laws of Singapore, certain of which are capable of extra-territorial application, as well as our constitution. In particular, we are required to comply with certain provisions of the SFA, which prohibit certain forms of market conduct and information disclosures, and impose criminal and civil penalties on corporations, directors and officers in respect of any breach of such provisions. In addition, the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers (the “Singapore Take-over Code”), specifies, among other things, certain circumstances in which a general offer is to be made upon a change in control of a Singapore-incorporated public company, and further specifies the manner and price at which voluntary and mandatory general offers are to be made.

 

The laws of Singapore and of the United States differ in certain significant respects. The rights of our shareholders and the obligations of our directors and officers under Singapore law may be different from those applicable to a company incorporated in the State of Delaware in material respects, and our shareholders may have more difficulty and less clarity in protecting their interests in connection with actions taken by our management, members of our board of directors or our controlling shareholders than would otherwise apply to a company incorporated in the State of Delaware. See “Comparison of Shareholder Rights” for a discussion of certain differences between Singapore and Delaware corporation law.

 

In addition, the application of Singapore law, in particular, the Companies Act 1967 of Singapore (the “Singapore Companies Act”), may, in certain circumstances, impose more restrictions on us, our shareholders, directors and officers than would otherwise be applicable to a company incorporated in the State of Delaware. For example, the Singapore Companies Act requires a director to act with a reasonable degree of diligence in the discharge of the duties of his office and, in certain circumstances, imposes criminal liability for specified contraventions of particular statutory requirements or prohibitions. In addition, pursuant to the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act, shareholders holding 10% or more of the total number of paid-up shares as at the date of the deposit carrying the right of voting at general meetings (disregarding paid-up shares held as treasury shares) may by depositing a requisition, require our directors to convene an extraordinary general meeting. If our directors do not within 21 days after the date of deposit of the requisition proceed to convene a meeting, the requisitioning shareholders, or any of them representing more than 50% of the total voting rights represented of all of them, may proceed to convene such meeting, and we will be liable for the reasonable expenses incurred by such requisitioning shareholders. We are also required by the Singapore Companies Act to deduct corresponding amounts from fees or other remuneration payable by us to such of the directors as are in default.

 

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Singapore take-over laws contain provisions that may vary from those in other jurisdictions.

 

The Singapore Take-over Code applies to, among others, corporations with a primary listing of their equity securities in Singapore. While the Singapore Take-over Code is drafted with, among others, listed public companies in mind, unlisted public companies with more than 50 (fifty) shareholders and net tangible assets of S$5.0 million or more, must also observe the letter and spirit of the general principles and rules of the Singapore Take-over Code, wherever this is possible and appropriate. Public companies with a primary listing overseas may apply to Securities Industry Council (“SIC”) to waive the application of the Singapore Take-over Code. As at the date of this Prospectus, no application has been made to SIC to waive the application of the Singapore Take-over Code in relation to us.

 

In this regard, the Singapore Take-over Code contains certain provisions that may possibly delay, deter or prevent a future take-over or change in control of us. Under the Singapore Take-over Code, except with the consent of the SIC, any person acquiring an interest, whether by a series of transactions over a period of time or not, either on his own or together with parties acting in concert with him, in 30% or more of our voting shares is required to extend a take-over offer for all remaining voting shares in accordance with the procedural and other requirements under the Singapore Take-over Code. Except with the consent of the SIC, such a take-over offer is also required to be made if a person holding between 30% and 50% (both inclusive) of our voting shares, either on his own or together with parties acting in concert with him, acquires additional voting shares representing more than 1% of our voting shares in any six-month period. While the Singapore Take-over Code seeks to ensure an equality of treatment among shareholders in take-over or merger situations, its provisions could substantially impede the ability of our shareholders to benefit from a change of control and, as a result, may adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares and the ability to realize any benefits from a potential change of control.

 

Subject to the general authority to allot and issue new ordinary shares provided by our shareholders, the Singapore Companies Act and our constitution, our directors may allot and issue new ordinary shares on terms and conditions and for such purposes as may be determined by our Board in its sole discretion.

 

Under Singapore law, we may only allot and issue new shares with the prior approval of our shareholders in a general meeting. Subject to the general authority to allot and issue new ordinary shares provided by our shareholders, the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act and our constitution, we may allot and issue new ordinary shares on such terms and conditions and for such purposes as may be determined by our Board in its sole discretion. Any additional issuances of new ordinary shares may dilute our shareholders’ percentage ownership interests in our ordinary shares and/or adversely impact the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

We may be or become a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders.

 

The rules governing passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”) can have adverse effects for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The tests for determining PFIC status for a taxable year depend upon the relative values of certain categories of assets and the relative amounts of certain kinds of income. The determination of whether we are a PFIC, which must be made annually after the close of each taxable year, depends on the particular facts and circumstances (such as the valuation of our assets, including goodwill and other intangible assets) and may also be affected by the application of the PFIC rules, which are subject to differing interpretations. The fair market value of our assets is expected to relate, in part, to (a) the market price of our ordinary shares and (b) the composition of our income and assets, which will be affected by how, and how quickly, we spend any cash that is raised in any financing transaction. Moreover, our ability to earn specific types of income that we currently treat as non-passive for purposes of the PFIC rules is uncertain with respect to future years. Because the value of our assets for purposes of determining PFIC status will depend in part on the market price of our ordinary shares, which may fluctuate significantly. We do not expect to be a PFIC for our current taxable year or in the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

If we are a PFIC, a U.S. Holder (defined below) would be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences, such as ineligibility for any preferred tax rates on capital gains or on actual or deemed dividends, interest charges on certain taxes treated as deferred, and additional reporting requirements under U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations. A U.S. Holder may in certain circumstances mitigate adverse tax consequences of the PFIC rules by filing an election to treat the PFIC as a qualified electing fund (“QEF”) or, if shares of the PFIC are “marketable stock” for purposes of the PFIC rules, by making a mark-to- market election with respect to the shares of the PFIC. We do not intend to comply with the reporting requirements necessary to permit U.S. Holders to elect to treat us as a QEF. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark- to-market election with respect to its ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder is in its U.S. federal taxable income an amount reflecting any year end increase in the value of its ordinary shares. For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of ordinary shares that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or other entity taxable 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; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust (a) if a court within the U.S. can exercise primary supervision over its administration, and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of that trust, or (b) that was in existence on August 20, 1996, and validly elected under applicable Treasury Regulations to continue to be treated as a domestic trust.

 

S-35

 

 

Investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding all aspects of the application of the PFIC rules to the ordinary shares.

 

Singapore taxes may differ from the tax laws of other jurisdictions.

 

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors concerning the overall tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of our shares. Singapore tax law may differ from the tax laws of other jurisdictions, including the United States.

 

Tax authorities could challenge the allocation of income and deductions among our subsidiaries, which could increase our overall tax liability.

 

We are organized in Singapore, and we currently have subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, and Indonesia. As we grow our business, we expect to conduct increased operations through our subsidiaries in various jurisdictions. If two or more affiliated companies are located in different jurisdictions, the tax laws or regulations of each country generally will require transactions between those affiliated companies to be conducted on terms consistent with those between unrelated companies dealing at arm’s length, and appropriate documentation generally must be maintained to support the transfer prices. We maintain our transfer pricing policies to be compliant with applicable transfer pricing laws, but our transfer pricing procedures are not binding on applicable tax authorities.

 

If tax authorities were to successfully challenge our transfer pricing, there could be an increase in our overall tax liability, which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, the tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate are subject to differing interpretations.

 

Tax authorities may challenge our tax positions, and if successful, such challenges could increase our overall tax liability. In addition, the tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate are subject to change. We cannot predict the timing or content of such potential changes, and such changes could increase our overall tax liability, which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Ordinary Shares and Convertible Note Raise

 

In the future, our ability to raise additional capital to expand our operations and invest in our business may be limited, and our failure to raise additional capital, if required, could impair our business.

 

While we currently anticipate that our available funds will be sufficient to meet our cash needs for at least the next 12 months, we may need or elect to seek additional financing at any time. Our ability to obtain financing will depend on, among other things, our development efforts, business plans, operating performance and condition of the capital markets at the time we seek financing. If we need or elect to raise additional funds, we may not be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing on favorable terms, if at all. If we raise additional equity financing, our shareholders may experience significant dilution of their ownership interests and the per-share value of our ordinary shares could decline. If we engage in additional debt financing, we may be required to accept terms that further restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness and force us to maintain specified liquidity or other ratios and limit the operating flexibility of our business. If we need additional capital and cannot raise it on acceptable terms, we may not be able to, among other things:

 

  Fund our operating capital requirements as we grow;
  Continue to grow by acquiring companies;
  Retain the leadership team and staff required;
  Repay our liabilities as they come due; and
  Make the necessary investments in our Edtech platform.

 

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Our share price may be volatile, and the market price of our ordinary shares may drop below the price you pay.

 

Market prices for securities of newly public companies have historically been particularly volatile in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your ordinary shares at or above the price you pay for your shares. Some of the factors that may cause the market price for our ordinary shares to fluctuate include:

 

 

  Actual or anticipated fluctuations in our key operating metrics, financial condition and operating results;
  Loss of current long-term contracts;
  Actual or anticipated changes in our growth rate;
  Competitors developing more advanced technology attracting our customers;
  Our announcement of actual results for a fiscal period that are lower than projected or expected or our announcement of revenue or earnings guidance that is lower than expected;
  Changes in estimates of our financial results or recommendations by securities analysts;
  Changes in market valuations of similar companies;
  Changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of debt;
  Announcements by us or our competitors of significant products or services, contracts, acquisitions or strategic alliances;
  Regulatory developments in Singapore, the United States or other countries;
  Actual or threatened litigation involving us or our industry;
  Additions or departures of key personnel;
  General trends in the education industry as a whole;
  Share price and volume fluctuations attributable to inconsistent trading volume levels of our shares;
  Further issuances of ordinary shares by us;
  Sales or ordinary shares by our shareholders;
  Repurchases of ordinary shares; and
  Changes in general economic, industry and market conditions.

 

In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for education companies in particular, has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. Securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a company’s securities. This litigation, if instituted against us, could result in very substantial costs, divert our management’s attention and resources, and harm our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, recent fluctuations in the financial and capital markets have resulted in volatility in securities prices.

 

S-37

 

 

The requirement that we repay the Convertible Note and interest thereon in cash under certain circumstances, and the restrictive covenants contained in the Convertible Note, could adversely affect our business plan, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

We may be required to repay the Convertible Note and interest thereon in cash, if we do not meet certain equity conditions as set forth in the Convertible Note (including minimum price and volume thresholds) or in certain other circumstances. For example, we will be required to repay the outstanding principal balance and accrued but unpaid interest, along with a premium, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Convertible Note). In addition, the Convertible Note contains restrictive covenants, including financial covenants. These obligations and covenants could have important consequences on our business. In particular, they could:

 

 

  require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on the Convertible Note;
     
  limit, among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds and otherwise raise additional capital, and our ability to conduct acquisitions, joint ventures or similar arrangements, as a result of our obligations to make such payments and comply with the restrictive covenants in the Convertible Note;
     
  limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our businesses and the industries in which we operate;
     
  increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; and
     
  place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have lower fixed costs.

 

The debt service requirements of any other outstanding indebtedness or preferred stock we incur or issue in the future, as well as the restrictive covenants contained in the governing documents for any such indebtedness, could intensify these risks.

 

In the event we are required to repay the Convertible Note in cash, we may seek to refinance the remaining balance, by either refinancing with the holder of the Convertible Note, by raising sufficient funds through a sale of equity or debt securities or by obtaining a credit facility. No assurances can be given that we will be successful in making the required payments under the Convertible Note, or in refinancing our obligations on favorable terms, or at all. Should we decide to refinance, it could be dilutive to shareholders.

 

If we are unable to make the required cash payments, there could be a default under the Convertible Note. In such event, or if a default otherwise occurs under the Convertible Note, including as a result of our failure to comply with the financial or other covenants contained therein, the holder of the Convertible Note will be able to elect to redeem the Convertible Note for cash equal to 115% of the then-outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Note (or such lesser principal amount accelerated by the holder) plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, or to convert the Convertible Note into ordinary shares at a conversion price equal to the lowest of (i) the applicable Conversion Price as in effect on the applicable Conversion Date, (ii) 85% of the VWAP of the ordinary shares as of the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice, (iii) 85% of the VWAP of the ordinary shares as of the trading day of the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice and (iv) 85% of the price computed as the quotient of (I) the sum of the VWAP of the ordinary shares for each of the three trading days with the lowest VWAP of the ordinary shares during the 20 consecutive trading day period ending and including the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice, divided by three.

 

Our assets and the assets of certain of our subsidiaries have been pledged as security for our obligations under the Convertible Note, and our default with respect to those obligations could result in the transfer of our assets to our creditor. Such a transfer could have a material adverse effect on our business, capital, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects.

 

The convertible note is a senior secured obligation of the Company secured by a lien on all assets of the Company and certain of our subsidiaries. In the event of a default by the Company with respect to its obligations under the Convertible Note, we or our subsidiaries may be obligated to transfer some of our assets to our creditor. Such a transfer could have a material adverse effect on our business, capital, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects.

 

S-38

 

 

A significant portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold into the public market in the near future, which could cause the market price of our ordinary shares to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.

 

The price of our ordinary shares could decline if there are substantial sales of our ordinary shares, particularly sales by our directors, executive officers and significant shareholders, or if there is a large number of shares of our ordinary shares available for sale. All of the ordinary shares sold in our IPO are currently available for sale in the public market. Substantially all of our remaining outstanding ordinary shares are currently restricted from resale as a result of market standoff and “lock-up” agreements.

 

The market price of our ordinary shares could decline as a result of the sale of a substantial number of ordinary shares in the public market or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares.

 

Our shareholders will experience significant dilution as a result of any conversion of the convertible note.

 

As a result of any future conversion of the Convertible Note, our shareholders will experience significant dilution. In addition, if we elect to pay monthly installment payments under the Convertible Note in our ordinary shares, we may be required to issue a substantial number of shares to the holder of the Convertible Note. The Convertible Note is convertible, at the holder’s option, into our ordinary shares, initially at a fixed conversion price of $5.17, subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, anti-dilution and other customary adjustment events (without taking into account the limitations on the conversion of the Convertible Note as described elsewhere in this prospectus). The number of ordinary shares to be issued may be substantially greater, if the Convertible Note is converted into ordinary shares following and during the continuation of an Event of Default (as defined in the Convertible Note) at the alternate conversion price as described elsewhere in this prospectus. In such cases, the number of shares issued will be based on the lowest conversion price in accordance with a formula determined based upon 85% of the volume weighted average of the market price of our ordinary shares during certain measuring periods. We cannot predict the market price of our ordinary shares at any future date, and therefore, we are unable to accurately forecast or predict the total amount of shares that ultimately may be issued under the Convertible Note. The Convertible Note likely will be converted only at times when it is economically beneficially for the holder to do so, and we are entitled to pay interest in shares and make installment conversions only at a price per share that is at a discount to the then current market price. In any event, the issuance of these shares will dilute our other equity holders, which could cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline.

 

If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business, or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our ordinary shares adversely, our share price and/or trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for our ordinary shares will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may never, publish research on us. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our Company, our share price and trading volume would likely be negatively impacted. If any of the analysts who may cover us adversely change their recommendation regarding our shares, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our share price would likely decline. If any of the analysts who may cover us were to cease coverage or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.

 

We may not pay dividends on our ordinary shares in the future and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our ordinary shares.

 

We do not currently expect to pay cash dividends on our ordinary shares. Any future dividend payments are within the absolute discretion of our Board and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, working capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements, financial condition, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions with respect to payment of dividends, business opportunities, anticipated cash needs, provisions of applicable law and other factors that our Board may deem relevant. Consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our ordinary shares.

 

S-39

 

 

We currently report our financial results under IFRS, which differs in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP.

 

Currently we report our financial statements under IFRS. There have been and there may in the future be certain significant differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP, including differences related to revenue recognition, share-based compensation expense, income tax and earnings per share. As a result, our financial information and reported earnings for historical or future periods could be significantly different if they were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, we do not intend to provide a reconciliation between IFRS and U.S. GAAP unless it is required under applicable law. As a result, you may not be able to meaningfully compare our financial statements under IFRS with those companies that prepare financial statements under U.S. GAAP.

 

We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our shareholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any December 31 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.

 

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards.

 

The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.

 

We incur significantly increased costs and devote substantial management time as a result of operating as a public company.

 

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. For example, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and are required to comply with the applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, as well as rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC, NYSE American including the establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and changes in corporate governance practices. Compliance with these requirements increases our legal and financial compliance costs and makes some activities more time consuming and costly.

 

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The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual and current reports with respect to our business and results of operations. We incur significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act, which will increase when we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” as defined by the JOBS Act. We will need to hire additional accounting and financial staff with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur as a result of becoming a public company or the timing of such costs. As a result, management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as regulatory and governing bodies provide new guidance. These factors could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We will continue to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to their application and practice, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us, and our business could be adversely affected.

 

As a result of disclosure of information as a public company, our business and financial condition have become more visible, which may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If the claims are successful, our business operations and financial results could be adversely affected, and even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them, could divert the resources of our management and adversely affect our business operations and financial results. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified colleagues, executive officers and Board members.

 

Operating as a public company makes it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance on the terms that we would like. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified people to serve on our Board, our Board committees or as executive officers.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting in the future, we may not be able to accurately report our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, which may adversely affect investor confidence.

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. We are required, under SOX 404, to perform system and process evaluations and testing of internal controls over financial reporting to allow management to report annually on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. This assessment requires disclosure of any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified by management. SOX 404 also generally requires an attestation from our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. However, as long as we remain an emerging growth company (“EGC”), we intend to take advantage of the exemption permitting it not to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.

 

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At the time when we are no longer an EGC, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which we control are documented, designed or operating. Remediation efforts may not enable us to avoid a material weakness in the future.

 

Compliance with SOX 404 requires the incurrence of substantial accounting expense and consumes significant management efforts. We may not be able to complete evaluation, testing and any required remediation in a timely fashion. During the evaluation and testing process, if we identify one or more material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain internal control over financial reporting could severely inhibit its ability to accurately report financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. If we are unable to conclude that internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness or significant deficiency in internal control over financial reporting, it could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our ordinary shares could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the NYSE American, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict future access to the capital markets. The Company has reported the material weakness in the amended audited report as of December 31, 2022.

 

If we are not able to comply with the applicable continued listing requirements or standards of the NYSE American, the NYSE American could delist our ordinary shares.

 

Our ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE American. In order to maintain that listing, we must satisfy minimum financial and other continued listing requirements and standards, including those regarding director independence and independent committee requirements, minimum shareholders’ equity, minimum share price, and certain corporate governance requirements. There can be no assurances that we will be able to comply with the applicable listing standards. If the NYSE American were to delist our ordinary shares, it would be more difficult for our shareholders to dispose of our ordinary shares and more difficult to obtain accurate price quotations on our ordinary shares. Our ability to issue additional securities for financing or other purposes, or otherwise to arrange for any financing we may need in the future, may also be materially and adversely affected if our ordinary shares are not listed on a national securities exchange.

 

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Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Ordinary Shares

 

In the future, our ability to raise additional capital to expand our operations and invest in our business may be limited, and our failure to raise additional capital, if required, could impair our business.

 

We may need or elect to seek, additional financing at any time. Our ability to obtain financing will depend on, among other things, our development efforts, business plans, operating performance and condition of the capital markets at the time we seek financing. If we need or elect to raise additional funds, we may not be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing on favorable terms, if at all. If we raise additional equity financing, our shareholders may experience significant dilution of their ownership interests and the per-share value of our ordinary shares could decline. If we engage in additional debt financing, we may be required to accept terms that further restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness and force us to maintain specified liquidity or other ratios and limit the operating flexibility of our business. If we need additional capital and cannot raise it on acceptable terms, we may not be able to, among other things:

 

  Fund our operating capital requirements as we grow;
  Continue to grow by acquiring companies;
  Retain the leadership team and staff required;
  Repay our liabilities as they come due; and
  Make the necessary investments in our Edtech platform.

 

Our share price may be volatile, and the market price of our ordinary shares after this offering may drop below the price you pay.

 

Market prices for securities of newly-public companies have historically been particularly volatile in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your ordinary shares at or above the initial public offering price in this offering. Some of the factors that may cause the market price for our ordinary shares to fluctuate include:

 

  Actual or anticipated fluctuations in our key operating metrics, financial condition and operating results;
  Loss of current long-term contracts;
  Actual or anticipated changes in our growth rate;
  Competitors developing more advanced technology attracting our customers;
  Our announcement of actual results for a fiscal period that are lower than projected or expected or our announcement of revenue or earnings guidance that is lower than expected;
  Changes in estimates of our financial results or recommendations by securities analysts;
  Changes in market valuations of similar companies;
  Changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of debt;
  Announcements by us or our competitors of significant products or services, contracts, acquisitions or strategic alliances;
  Regulatory developments in Singapore, the United States or other countries;
  Actual or threatened litigation involving us or our industry;
  Additions or departures of key personnel;
  General trends in the education industry as a whole;
  Share price and volume fluctuations attributable to inconsistent trading volume levels of our shares;
  Further issuances of ordinary shares by us;
  Sales or ordinary shares by our shareholders;
  Repurchases of ordinary shares; and
  Changes in general economic, industry and market conditions.

 

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In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for education companies in particular, has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These fluctuations may be even more pronounced in the trading market for our shares shortly following this offering. If the market price of our ordinary shares after this offering does not exceed the offering price, you may not realize any return on your investment in us and may lose some or all of your investment. Securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a company’s securities. This litigation, if instituted against us, could result in very substantial costs, divert our management’s attention and resources, and harm our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, recent fluctuations in the financial and capital markets have resulted in volatility in securities prices.

 

We have broad discretion over the use of proceeds we receive in this offering and may not apply the proceeds in ways that increase the value of your investment.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and, as a result, you will have to rely upon the judgment of our management with respect to the use of these proceeds. Our management may spend a portion or all of the net proceeds in ways that not all shareholders approve of or that may not yield a favorable return. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business.

 

Purchasers of ordinary shares in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of their investment.

 

The offering price of our ordinary shares will be substantially higher than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our outstanding ordinary shares immediately after this offering. Therefore, if you purchase our ordinary shares in this offering, you will incur immediate dilution of $1.35 in the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share from the price you paid based on an assumed initial public offering price of $0.7018, the closing price of an ordinary share on December 27, 2023. In addition, following the completion of this offering, purchasers of ordinary shares in this offering will have contributed 8 % of the total consideration paid by our shareholders to acquire our ordinary shares, but will own 18% of our outstanding ordinary shares.

 

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If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business, or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our ordinary shares adversely, our share price and/or trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for our ordinary shares will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may never, publish research on us. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our Company, our share price and trading volume would likely be negatively impacted. If any of the analysts who may cover us adversely change their recommendation regarding our shares, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our share price would likely decline. If any of the analysts who may cover us were to cease coverage or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.

 

Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds from this offering, and may not use the proceeds effectively.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our ordinary shares. For example, management could invest the proceeds in assets that do not produce attractive returns or to make acquisitions of properties or businesses that do not prove to be attractive or otherwise are unsuccessful. Conversely, management may not be able to identify and complete investments or acquisitions. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and cause the price of our shares to decline.

 

This is a best efforts offering, no minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds is required to be sold, and we may not raise the amount of capital we believe is required for our business plans.

 

The placement agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the securities in this offering. The placement agent has no obligation to buy any of the securities from us or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the securities. There is no required minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds that must be sold as a condition to completion of this offering. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to the closing of this offering, the actual offering amount, placement agent fees and proceeds to us are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the maximum amounts set forth above. We may sell fewer than all of the securities offered hereby, which may significantly reduce the amount of proceeds received by us, and investors in this offering will not receive a refund in the event that we do not sell an amount of securities sufficient to fund our business plans. Thus, we may not raise the amount of capital we believe is required for our operations in the short-term and may need to raise additional funds, which may not be available or available on terms acceptable to us.

 

A large number of shares issued in this offering may be sold in the market following this offering, which may depress the market price of our shares.

 

As of December 27, 2023, there were 73,873,784 ordinary shares outstanding. All of our issued and outstanding shares, including the shares issued in this offering and issuable upon exercise of the Series 2024 -A warrants and the Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants may be sold in the market following this offering and will be freely tradeable, except for any shares held by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

Sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market after this offering, or the perception that such sales will occur, could depress the market price of our ordinary shares. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our ordinary shares in the public market following this offering could cause the market price of our ordinary shares to decline. If there are more shares of ordinary shares offered for sale than buyers are willing to purchase, then the market price of our ordinary shares may decline to a market price at which buyers are willing to purchase the offered shares of ordinary shares and sellers remain willing to sell the shares.

 

Each of our directors and executive officers will enter into a lock-up agreement in connection with this offering, which will restrict their sales of our ordinary shares for a period of 90 days after the closing date of this offering, subject to certain exceptions. The placement agent may, in its sole discretion and at any time or from time to time before the termination of the period, release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements. These lock-up agreements affect approximately 1,434,616 shares of our ordinary shares currently outstanding. Sales of stock by any of our executive officers or directors could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our ordinary shares.

 

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The Series 2024 -A warrants and Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants issued in this offering may not have any value.

 

The Series 2024 -A warrants will be exercisable commencing on the date of issuance and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance at an assumed exercise price of $0.7018 per share. The Series 2024-C warrants will be exercisable commencing on the date of issuance and will expire on the 18-month anniversary of the date of issuance at an assumed exercise price of $0.7018 per share. The pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants will be exercisable commencing on the date of issuance and will expire when exercised in full, at an exercise price of $0.0001 per share. The assumed purchase price of $0.7018 per share of the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants will be pre-paid, except for a nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per share, upon issuance of the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants and, consequently, no additional payment or other consideration (other than the nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per share) will be required to be delivered to us by the holder upon exercise. In the event our ordinary shares price does not exceed the exercise price of the Series 2024 -A warrants or the Series 2024-C during the period when such warrants are exercisable, such warrants may not have any value. In the event our ordinary shares do not exceed the exercise price of the prefunded Series 2024 -B warrants, which is $0.0001 per share issued in this offering during the period when such warrants are exercisable, such prefunded Series 2024 -B warrants may not have any value.

 

Holders of our ordinary shares may not be permitted to exercise warrants that they hold on account of a beneficial ownership limitations.

 

The Series 2024 -A warrants and the Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants being offered hereby will prohibit a holder from exercising its warrants if doing so would result in such holder beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder prior to the date of issuance, 9.99%), of our ordinary shares. Any holder may increase or decrease this beneficial ownership limitation to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% upon notice to us, provided that, in the case of an increase of such beneficial ownership limitation, such notice shall not be effective until 61 days following notice to us. As a result, you may not be able to exercise your warrants for shares of our ordinary shares at a time when it would be financially beneficial for you to do so.

 

There is no public market for the Series 2024 -A warrants and the Series 2024-C warrants or the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants being offered by us in this offering.

 

There is no established public trading market for the Series 2024 -A warrants or Series 2024-C warrants to purchase shares of our ordinary shares or the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants to purchase shares of our ordinary shares being offered by us in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the Series 2024 -A warrants or or the Series 2024-C warrants or the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants on any national securities exchange or other trading system. Without an established market, the liquidity of the Series 2024 -A warrants or the Series 2024-C warrants and the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants may be extremely limited or non-existent.

 

Except as set forth in the applicable Series 2024 -A warrant or the Series-C warrant or the pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrant, holders of our warrants will have no rights as ordinary shareholders until such holders exercise their warrants and acquire our ordinary share.

 

Until you acquire shares of our ordinary share upon exercise of your Series 2024 -A warrant or Series 2024-C warrant or pre-funded Series 2024-B warrants, you will have no rights with respect to the shares of our ordinary share underlying such warrants, except for those rights set forth in the Series 2024 -A warrants or Series 2024-C warrants or pre-funded Series 2024 -B warrants. Upon exercise of your warrants, you will be entitled to exercise the rights of an ordinary shareholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.

 

A potential violation of section 5 of the Securities Act may arise if the interpretation or enforcement of the law and regulations regarding NFTs change.

 

If the interpretation or enforcement of the law and regulations regarding NFTs change or if it is deemed by a regulatory body or court of competent jurisdiction were to conclude that we erroneously concluded that our NFTs are not securities, we could be potentially deemed to be in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A violation of Section 5 would carry the possible following consequences: (i) civil penalties for monetary damages; (ii) disgorgement of any profits from issuance of the NFTs; and (iii) criminal penalties of up to five-year term of sentence

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in the sections entitled “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and “Regulation.” Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those listed under “Risk Factors,” may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

You can identify some of these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:

 

➢ Our future business development, financial condition and results of operations;

 

➢ Our ability to continue to make acquisitions and to successfully integrate and operate acquired businesses;

 

➢ Our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our marketplace’s products and services;

 

➢ Our ability to implement our business strategy and expand our portfolio of products and services;

 

➢ Our ability to adapt to technological changes in the educational sector;

 

➢ The development and expansion of our global education network and the effect of new technology applications in the educational services industry;

 

➢ Our ability to continue attracting and retaining new students, teachers, Mentors, and partners;

 

➢ Our ability to maintain the academic quality of our programs;

 

➢ The availability of qualified personnel and the ability to retain such personnel;

 

➢ Government interventions in education industry programs, that affect the economic or tax regime, the collection of tuition fees or the regulatory framework applicable to educational institutions;

 

➢ Our expectations regarding our businesses base of investors;

 

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➢ Changes in consumer demands and preferences and technological advances, and our ability to innovate to respond to such changes;

 

➢ Our compliance with, and changes to, governmental laws, regulations and tax matters that apply to us and our industry;

 

➢ Health crises, including due to pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic and government measures taken in response thereto;

 

➢ Our goals and strategies;

 

➢ Our plans to invest in our business;

 

➢Our relationships with our partners;

 

➢ Competition in our industry;

 

➢ We are incorporated in Singapore, and our shareholders may have more difficulty protecting their interests than they would as shareholders of a corporation incorporated in the United States; and

 

➢ Other risk factors discussed under “Risk Factors.”

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to various and significant risks and uncertainties, including those which are beyond our control. Although we believe that our expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our expectations may later be found to be incorrect. The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should thoroughly read this prospectus and the documents that we refer to herein with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. We disclaim any obligation to update our forward-looking statements, except as required by law. This prospectus contains certain data and information that we obtained from various government and private publications, including industry data and information from the World Economic Forum Schools of the Future Report and industry statistics from education market intelligence firm, HolonIQ. Statistical data in these publications also include projections based on a number of assumptions.

 

In addition, the new and rapidly changing nature of the credit and marketplace lending industry results in significant uncertainties for any projections or estimates relating to the growth prospects or future condition of our industry. Furthermore, if any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data are later found to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Assuming a public offering price of $0.7018 per share (the closing price of an ordinary share on December 27, 2023), we estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of our ordinary shares in this offering will be approximately $9,950,000 after deducting estimated placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price will increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $13,180,393, assuming the number of ordinary shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each increase (decrease) of 100,000 ordinary shares offered by us would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $64,917, assuming the assumed public offering price remains the same and after deducting estimated placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

We intend to use the net proceed we receive from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses, debt repayment and to support acquisitions:

 

-Debt repayment (of approximately $2.2 million to Alto Opportunity Master Fund, SPC – Segregated Master Portfolio B)
-Working capital (approximate $0.8 million payment to Boustead Securities LLC)
-Acquisition
-Product and marketing team

 

The foregoing represents our current intentions based upon our present plans and business conditions to use and allocate the net proceeds of this offering. Our management, however, will have significant flexibility and discretion to apply the net proceeds of this offering. If an unforeseen event occurs or business conditions change, we may use the proceeds of this offering differently than as described in this prospectus. See “Risk Factors.”

 

Pending use of proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade instruments, or hold as cash.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We currently anticipate that we will retain any future earnings for the operation and expansion of our business. Accordingly, we do not currently anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our ordinary shares for the foreseeable future. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our Board and will depend on then existing conditions. We may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends at a general meeting of shareholders, but we are restricted from paying dividends in excess of the amount recommended by our Board. Pursuant to Singapore law, no dividend may be paid except out of our profits.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

 

The following tables sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our total capitalization as of June 30, 2023 as follows:

 

➢ On an actual basis for the companies within the Group at June 30, 2023;

 

➢ On a pro forma as adjusted basis including the companies that the Group acquired during first half of 2023, as if they were a part of the Group for the first half of 2023, adjusted to reflect the sale of 15,673,981 ordinary shares in this offering, at an assumed initial public offering price of $0.7018 per ordinary share, after deducting the placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

The adjustments reflected below are subject to change and are based upon available information and certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable. Total shareholders’ equity and total capitalization following the completion of this offering are subject to adjustment based on the actual offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read this capitalization table in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds,” “Summary Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

   June 30, 2023 (USD) 
   Actual   Pro forma As Adjusted 
Cash and cash equivalents   2,624,432     12,574,432  
Capitalization:            
Long-term debt:   549,621     549,621  
Shareholders’ equity:   112,317,721     122,267,721  
50,900,057 ordinary shares issued and outstanding on an actual basis, 66,574,038 ordinary shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis            
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)        -  
Reserve   (33,697,262)    (33,697,262  
Accumulated deficit   (79,150,182)    (79,150,182  
Non-controlling interest   6,669,508     6,669,508  
Total shareholders’ equity   6,139,785     16,089,785  
Total capitalization   6,689,406     16,639,406  

 

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $0.7018 per share (the closing price of an ordinary share on December 27, 2023) will increase (decrease) the amount of total assets by approximately $13,180,393 and total capitalization on a pro forma as adjusted basis by approximately $13,180,393, assuming the number of ordinary shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of ordinary shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 100,000 ordinary shares offered by us would increase (decrease) the amount of total assets by approximately $64,917 and total capitalization on a pro forma as adjusted basis by approximately $64,917, assuming the assumed public offering price of $0.7018 per share (the closing price of an ordinary share on December 27, 2023) remains the same, and after deducting estimated placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

The number of ordinary shares outstanding as of December 27, 2023 is 73,873,784 and excludes:

 

2,516,581 management and employee share options issued and reserved.
Any further conversion from the convertible debt issuance or any outstanding warrants.

 

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DILUTION

 

If you invest in our ordinary shares, your interest will be immediately diluted $1.35 per ordinary share, representing the difference between the price paid by investors in this offering based on the assumed initial public offering price per ordinary share of $0.7018 and our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share of $(0.65). Dilution results from the fact that the initial public offering price per ordinary share is substantially in excess of the pro forma as adjusted book value per ordinary share attributable to the existing shareholders of our presently outstanding ordinary shares.

 

Our net tangible book value of the Company as of June 30, 2023 was $(53,303,839) or $(1.05) per ordinary share. Net tangible book value represents the amount of our total consolidated tangible assets, less the amount of our total consolidated liabilities. Total tangible assets are calculated as total assets minus goodwill, intangible assets and right of use asset, and the total tangible liability is calculated as total liability.

 

The total shares outstanding as of June 30, 2023 were 50,900,057. The pro forma as adjusted total shares outstanding with an assumed offering price of $0.7018 per unit is 66,574,038.

 

Without taking into account any other changes in net tangible book value after June 30, 2023, other than to give effect to (i) the sale of the ordinary shares offered in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $0.7018 per ordinary share, and (ii) the deduction of the placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2023 would have been $(43,353,839), or $(0.65) per ordinary share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $0.40 per ordinary share to the existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $1.35 per ordinary share to investors purchasing our ordinary shares in this offering. The following table illustrates such dilution:

 

   Per Ordinary
Share
 
   ($) 
Assumed initial public offering price per ordinary share  $ 0.70  
Net tangible book value up  $ (1.05 )
Pro forma as adjusted increase (decrease) in net tangible book value per share  $ 0.40  
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering  $ (0.65 )
Pro forma as adjusted dilution per share to investors participating in this offering  $ 1.35  

 

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2023 is calculated as follows:

 

Total assets  $ 85,351,867  
Less:       
Intangible assets, net  $ 15,421,531  
Operating lease right-of-use asset  $ 12,344,687  
Goodwill  $ 31,677,406  
Total intangible assets  $ 59,443,624  
Total tangible assets  $ 25,908,243  
Less: Total liabilities  $ 69,262,082  
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value  $ (43,353,839 )

 

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Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $0.7018 per share (the closing price of an ordinary share on December 27, 2023) will increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share by $0.20 per share and decrease (increase) the dilution to new investors by $0.80 per share, assuming the number of ordinary shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of ordinary shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 100,000 ordinary shares offered by us would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share by approximately $0.00 per share assuming the number of ordinary shares offered by the Company, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and decrease (increase) the dilution per share to new investors by approximately $(0.00) per share. The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of June 30, 2023 the differences between existing shareholders and the new investors with respect to the number of ordinary shares purchased from us in this offering, the total consideration paid and the average price per ordinary share paid before deducting the placement agent’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

 

   Ordinary Shares Purchased   Total Consideration  

Average

Price Per

Ordinary

 
   Number   Percent   Amount   Percent   Share 
Existing shareholders (Issued)    73,873,784         $ 127,116,569         $ 1.72  
New investors    15,673,981           11,000,000           0.70  
Total    89,547,765           138,116,569           1.54  

 

The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only. Our net tangible book value following the completion of this offering is subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price of our ordinary shares and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

The number of ordinary shares outstanding as of December 27, 2023 is 73,873,784 and excludes:

 

2,516,581 management and employee share options issued and reserved.
Any further conversion from the convertible debt issuance or any outstanding warrants.

 

 

➢ To the extent that additional options or other securities are issued under our equity incentive plans, or we issue additional shares of ordinary shares in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent we issue additional ordinary shares or other equity or convertible debt securities in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

In this section “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Genius Group Limited. You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The following discussion is based on our financial information prepared in accordance with the IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB, which may differ in material respects from generally accepted accounting principles in other jurisdictions, including U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. This discussion and other parts of this Prospectus contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section of this Prospectus titled “Item 3.D. Risk Factors.” References to the number of shares or options issued by Genius Group Limited in this section shall be to the number of shares or options issued at June 30, 2023.

 

Please refer to the glossary of terms provided at the beginning of this Prospectus for aid in understanding the entities, acquisitions, products, services and certain other concepts referred to in the management’s discussion and analysis presented herein.

 

A. Operating Results

 

Overview

 

We believe that we are a world leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group. Our mission is to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, lifelong learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed in today’s market.

 

To help achieve our mission, we have completed an IPO on NYSE American, on April 14, 2022 and then dual listed the Company on Upstream on April 6, 2023. On September 19, 2023, Genius Group. Ltd. publicly announced that it has commenced the process to delist its securities from Upstream, which process was completed on September 29, 2023. This decision was made due to complex securities regulations arising from the dual listing on Upstream and NYSE and de minimis use of Upstream by GNS shareholders). We have also raised follow on Convertible Note in September 2022. We grew from a Pre-IPO Group of four companies to a post IPO Group of nine companies, once the five Acquisitions closed.

 

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Our Pre-IPO Group includes our holding company, Genius Group Ltd, our Edtech platform, GeniusU Ltd, and two companies that were acquired: Entrepreneurs Institute in 2019 and Entrepreneur Resorts in 2020 (spin-off completed on October 2, 2023).

 

The entrepreneur education system of our Pre-IPO Group has been delivered virtually and in-person, in multiple languages, locally and globally mainly via our GeniusU Edtech platform to adults seeking to grow their entrepreneur and leadership skills. Our partners and community are global with an average of 8,900 new students joining our GeniusU platform each week in 2022. Our City Leaders have been conducting our events (physically or virtually) in over 100 cities and over 2,500+ faculty members have been operating their microschools using our online tools.

 

We are now expanding our education system to age groups beyond our adult audience, to children and young adults. The five Acquisitions are our first step towards this. They include: Education Angels, which provides early learning in New Zealand for children from early stage 5 years old; E-Square, which provides primary and secondary school education in South Africa; University of Antelope Valley, which provides vocational certifications and university degrees in California, USA; Property Investors Network, which provides property investment courses and events in England, UK; and Revealed Films, a media production company that specializes in multi-part documentaries.

 

Our plan is to combine their education programs with our current education programs and Edtech platform as part of one lifelong learning system, and we have selected these acquisitions because they already share aspects of our Genius Curriculum and our focus on entrepreneur education.

 

Our financial growth model is based on a combination of four main factors:

 

  1. Growth by acquisition of education companies that add valuable courses, content, accreditation, campuses, faculty and students to our Group.
  2. Growth of our Edtech platform GeniusU as a result of converting the content, accreditation, faculty and students of our acquisition companies into online courses that can be delivered globally.
  3. Additional growth of GeniusU, with its digital curriculum and global student base, via wholly- owned curriculum, hosting partners, and their content.
  4. Accelerated growth of each of our companies within the Group, as a result of expanding the Edtech business model within each company and gaining the benefit of the AI, digital marketing, customer intelligence and global community that GeniusU provides.

 

To provide an accurate discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation, the financial reports provided and discussed below are grouped in the following sections:

 

Financials for the Pre-IPO Group including acquisitions from the acquisition date: Unaudited financials provided for the six months June 30, 2023 and 2022, including the acquisitions company from the date of acquisition.

 

Pro forma financials for Genius Group (The full Group including the Pre-IPO Group and the Acquisitions): Unaudited pro forma financials provided for the six months ended June 30, 2023 for the full Group, including all the Acquisition companies and excluding Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd, as if they were operating as one during these periods.

 

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Operations

 

Our financial results should also be read in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which had its impact mainly in 2020 and 2021. In 2021 the pandemic disrupted the global economy. This negatively impacted large populations including people and businesses that may be directly or indirectly involved with the operation of our Company, products, and services.

 

Our response to these challenges was to cut costs, obtain landlord support where relevant and redeploy staff members where possible. At some properties, closure created opportunities for maintenance and renovation activities, as well as staff training. This enabled us to reopen efficiently when allowed. During 2021 all of our campus venues in Entrepreneur Resorts began to reopen in line with easing of pandemic restrictions and revenue increased to $4.6 million in 2022 from $3.1 million in 2021.

 

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While campus revenue was negatively impacted in the Pre-IPO Group, online revenue has been positively impacted. Education revenue grew by 160% from $5.2 million in 2021 to $13.5 million in 2022 as more people worked from home or in a hybrid office model. This has been due to the continued growth of the courses and students on GeniusU, together with the growth in faculty and partners who have chosen GeniusU as the platform where they are marketing and delivering courses. At the end of 2022 the Pre-IPO Group had 13,005 partners compared to 10,217 at the end of 2021.

 

The five Acquisitions were also impacted by COVID-19.

 

The University of Antelope Valley was directly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak (COVID- 19). In March 2020, UAV received approval for total of $1,613,796 grants through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) under the Cares Act. In May 2020, UAV received approval for a $1,136,120 note payable through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Cares Act. This note was forgiven in November 2020, and the forgiveness was recorded as other income in 2021. The UAV campus closed from March 2020 to September 2021; all UAV revenue became digital education revenue and all faculty and students proceeded with their courses online. The result of this is that the UAV faculty and staff have experienced the effectiveness that online delivery can have, and we believe this will support our post-acquisition integration and expansion plan, as we create and deliver UAV’s first online certification and degree programs on GeniusU.

 

Property Investors Network was impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak as the business model had previously been designed to operate investor education events in-person at venues. However, the company adapted and took the opportunity to transform the model to a digital online operation. Programs such as PIN meetings, events, workshops and accelerators were switched to an online format which resulted in increased revenue and margins for the company in the first half of 2021Our post- acquisition plan is to continue to expand on this digital revenue model supplemented by in-person local meetings connected to course content and connections on our GeniusU Edtech platform.

 

In 2020 E-Square ceased all in-person classes in South Africa for its students in response to COVID-19. However, as all course work at E-Square is already conducted online using the student’s smart phones, the move to fully online courses took place without any loss of students or revenues. Based on our post- IPO plans, we believe E-Square will benefit from the anticipated shift towards increased online education. Similar to UAV, E-Square reopened its campus in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in September 2021 and has moved its digital revenue back to in-person revenue. Also similar to UAV, the school’s experience with digital delivery has prepared the staff and faculty for our post- acquisition integration and expansion plan in which we plan to expand E-Square’s most popular courses online.

 

Education Angels, a New Zealand based home childcare and education company, was able to maintain its model of delivering its education digitally to its in-home educators throughout COVID-19 restrictions and this model continues as restrictions in New Zealand are lifted.

 

Revealed Films, a Delaware based Film Production Company, was able to run its operations and launch films to deliver to the digital audience throughout the COVID-19 restrictions and this model did not have an impact even after the restrictions are lifted in the United States.

 

We believe that the positive impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the shift towards online education is reflected in the two companies in the group that are currently focused on using our Edtech platform and delivering online courses.

 

We expect this trend towards online education to be a long-term shift, and based on our post-IPO plans for each of the Acquisitions to digitize and distribute their courses online via GeniusU, we believe this will have a net positive impact. The pro forma revenue of the Group including the Acquisitions and excluding Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd reduced to $8.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $12.5 million in the first half of 2022. We anticipate that the percentage of education revenue generated by the Group will rise as we expect the growth rate of the digital revenue segment generated by the Group continues to exceed the in-person education.

 

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Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

 

We believe there are several important factors that have impacted and that we expect will impact or will continue to impact our financial performance and results of operations, including:

 

  Growth in our student and partner numbers on GeniusU: We measure the number of students and partners that join our GeniusU platform and the ongoing growth in these numbers is critical to our financial success. We intend to continue to grow our student and partner numbers through a combination of our digital marketing activity, our global partnerships and our acquisitions. If our investment in these areas does not generate the expected revenue growth, then our operations and financial results could be adversely impacted.
     
  Development of technology on our GeniusU Edtech platform: We are investing in improving the functionality and user experience of our GeniusU Edtech platform. This includes investing in personalizing the experience for each student and partner with the use of A.I., and in utilizing the data that we collect on each student and partner to deliver this experience. We believe that successful execution of our technology strategy will lead to wide adoption of our Edtech platform. Any delays in commercialization of our technology or decreases in the expected market demand for our platform could adversely impact our operations and financial results.
     
  Global adoption of our Genius Curriculum: We intend to continue to expand the courses and products in our Genius Curriculum on a global basis. We intend to hire additional resources in sales, marketing and administration in order to develop the market for our Genius Curriculum, engage in sales activities and establish other commercial capabilities to serve the needs our students and partners. If our investment in our Genius Curriculum does not generate expected revenue growth, then our operations and financial results could be adversely impacted.
     
  Integration of our Acquisitions: The success of our Acquisitions is dependent on our ability to integrate each of them effectively into our group. We are focusing on the integration of common functions, including our management systems, data systems, financial reporting and digital marketing practices, as well as integrating content, technology and payment processes on our GeniusU Edtech platform. This may require increased investment to our normal operations, including the hiring of new personnel and increase in our system integration costs.
     
  Success in attracting further acquisitions: We intend for our future growth to be generated from a combination of our organic growth and growth through acquisitions. We intend to make further acquisitions that are complementary to our existing curriculum and technology and, where appropriate, to hire additional resources to support the growth and integration of these acquisitions. If we are not successful in attracting and integrating these future acquisitions, then our operations and financial results could be adversely impacted.

 

While each of these areas present significant opportunities for us, they also pose significant risks and challenges that we must address. See the section of this Prospectus titled “Item 3.D. Risk Factors” for more information.

 

Components of our Operating Results

 

Revenue

 

Our revenue is derived from education and campus segments.

 

Education is further split into digital and in-person. Our most significant growth opportunities are in the digital education stream, and our model allows us to scale with both organic growth and growth through acquisitions.

 

Campus revenue includes food, beverage and accommodation. This is derived from both our students who are undertaking our courses, and from non-student customers.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

For the education revenue segment, cost of revenue consists mainly of digital marketing and faculty costs. Our courses include content developed in-house and content developed, and usually delivered, by other faculty. We pay commissions or content fees to external faculty. Cost of revenue for this segment also includes transaction processing fees and amortization of the capital cost of the technology platform.

 

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For the campus revenue segment, cost of revenue includes food & beverage, delivery costs, accommodation costs, promotional discounts, transaction processing fees, and depreciation and amortization of right-of-use assets, buildings and equipment that directly relate to the earning of revenue.

 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses primarily comprise employee compensation and benefits for functions such as finance, accounting, analytics, legal, human resources, consulting fees, and other costs including facility and equipment costs, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees, and maintenance of the technology platform.

 

Key Business Metrics and Non-IFRS Financial Measures

 

We monitor the key business metrics and Non-IFRS financial measure set forth below to help us evaluate our business and growth trends, set growth targets and budgets, and measure the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts. These key business metrics and Non-IFRS financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only, are not a substitute for IFRS financial measures, and may differ from similarly titled metrics or measures presented by other companies. A reconciliation of each Non-IFRS financial measure to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measure is provided in the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA” section of this Prospectus.

 

Key Business Metrics

 

Please refer to the tables under “Key Business Metrics” for data relating to the two segments of the Pre-IPO Group, and the Acquisitions, for the six months ended June 30, 2023, and 2022.

 

These metrics have been used to measure and grow the Pre-IPO Group, with Education Segment metrics (related primarily to GeniusU Ltd, including Entrepreneurs Institute’s activity) and Campus Segment metrics (related to Entrepreneur Resorts). The same metrics used to measure the Group’s Education Segment will be used to measure the Acquisitions. The reason that we are choosing the same metrics is related to our plan to convert our Acquisitions into a similar “freemium” model by which we measure GeniusU, in which students and partners join the platform for free and then over time a percentage of them upgrade to paid courses, products and certifications. The Acquisitions have previously measured students and financial data without necessarily focusing on cost per student or revenue per student.

 

This “freemium” model is now common with online gaming companies and social networks, as it enables users to trial the value of the content and community before committing to paying for additional value. In traditional education, this is not yet a commonly adopted model, and students at many schools, universities or training institutions are generally expected to commit to payment before experiencing the course or education pathway.

 

More recently, Edtech companies have introduced a “freemium” model into the education industry. We have found at GeniusU that by focusing on this model, attracting students into free courses and then building a community and content that encourages them to stay and for a percentage to upgrade to paid courses, it results in the following benefits:

 

  Our Group can scale far more rapidly with students joining for free online than by relying on an enrolment sales team (which is what most schools and universities rely on).
  We attract free students at a much lower marketing cost per student, and as they experience our community and courses they refer their family, friends and colleagues to join.
  The heightened activity and scale of this approach in turn attracts more partners and faculty who join the platform, who in turn attract more students.
  This network effect enables us to deliver courses to a much wider and more global student body than we could with a tradition enrolment process.

 

We believe that as we continue to focus on this approach, we will find effective ways to reduce the marketing cost per student, increase the conversion rate and increase the annual revenue per student and lifetime value per student. By applying this same conversion model to our Acquisitions after completion of the acquisitions, we also believe they will benefit from attracting increased student numbers and increased partners and faculty delivering their courses globally.

 

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We also believe that the “freemium” model will lead to a higher quality of free courses as well as paid courses in our curriculum, as the strength of our student retention and conversion rates will be more dependent on the students experiencing a high enough quality of course content and a relevant enough personalized pathway to want to upgrade to higher-priced courses as a part time or full-time student than it will on the strength of an enrolment team.

 

For further details on our conversion model for students and partners, refer to the “Our Conversion Model” section in this Prospectus. For further details on the courses, we plan to introduce for each of the Acquisitions to introduce the “freemium” model, refer to the “Our Courses, Products and Services” section.

 

The Acquisitions have previously measured students and financial data without focusing on cost per student or revenue per student, however we have provided these measures together with all the following Key Business Metrics in the Key Business Metrics for the purpose of providing a company-by-company comparison, and our plan is to be measuring and improving these Key Business Metrics as we convert our Acquisitions into the “freemium” model.

 

The methods used for calculating the operating data presented are consistent and the same for all businesses in the Group including the Pre-IPO Companies and the Acquisitions.

 

Number of Students and Users

 

 

Number of Students and Users

 

   Total 
Six months ended June 30, 2023   5,365,626 
Year ended December 31, 2022   4,450,852 
Year ended December 31, 2021   2,825,628 

 

Number of Free Students and Users

 

   Total 
Six months ended June 30, 2023   5,186,477 
Year ended December 31, 2022   4,278,933 
Year ended December 31, 2021   2,768,530 

 

Number of Customers (Paying Students and Users)

 

   Total 
Six months ended June 30, 2023   179,149 
Year ended December 31, 2022   171,919 
Year ended December 31, 2021   72,422 

 

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The Number of Students, Number of Free Students, and Number of Paying Students are the total numbers for each at the end of the year. For purposes of determining the Number of Students, we treat each student account that registers with a unique email as a student and adjust for any cancellations. This number is then divided into the Number of Paying Students, who have made one or more purchases, and the Number of Free Students, who are utilizing our free courses and products without making a purchase. We believe that these numbers are an important indicator of the growth of our business and future revenue trends.

 

Two companies, GeniusU Ltd and PIN follow a “freemium” model, explained in the section “Business — Our Conversion Model” below. This explains their high number of total students and paying students. These are also the two companies with free students.

 

GeniusU Ltd grew total students by 17% in 2022 and a further 15% in the first half of 2023 to 3,340,077 total students on an annualized basis, with paying students growing by 15% in 2022 and a further 15% in the first half of 2023 to 45,038 paying students on an annualized basis. We have seen consistent growth in the number of students on GeniusU year-on-year within the range of 10% to 20% per year. This growth is primarily due to three factors: Organic growth through word-of mouth and referrals; partners and our acquisitions attracting new students; and direct growth from paid digital advertising. We have historically spent a low amount on advertising as we have relied on word-of-mouth referrals and partners. Our marketing spend has been at less than 10% of revenue for the Pre-IPO Group and pro forma revenue for the Group including Acquisitions.

 

PIN increased total students by 5% in 2022 and a further 14% in the first half of 2023 to 176,146 total students on an annualized basis, with paying students growing by 121% in 2022 and a further 3% in the first half of 2023 to 68,822 paying students on an annualized basis. PIN has also been following a steady growth, with a spike in 2020 during the pandemic as more individuals in the United Kingdom began seeking out financial education and investment education.

 

Following the completion of the acquisitions, in 2023, we have begun tracking the number of free students as we introduce free courses and our student conversion model to the three Pre-IPO Companies that have a more traditional education model. Currently these three companies rely on enrolment directly into a full-time paid service or course, and as a result they have much lower student numbers at present.

 

UAV had 415 students in the first half of 2023 compared to 489 in 2022. UAV doesn’t offer any free courses and all the students tracked are paying students. The decrease in 2023 is mainly due to the fact that enrollments are higher in the second half of the year. RF added 1,848,228 new users and 64,190 customers to the group total in 2023. E-Square had 407 students in the first half of 2023 and 387 of which are paid students compared to 602 total students and 391 paid students in 2022. Education Angels total students in the first half of 2023 were 353 compared to 194 students in 2022.

 

Overall, pro forma numbers for the Group including the Acquisitions reflect a 21% growth in total students and users in the first half of 2023 compared to 2022, with paying students growing by 4% in the first half of 2023 to 179,149 paying students. We believe these numbers represent a consistent organic growth with a relatively low marketing spend.

 

The Number of Partners is the total number of partners at the end of the year. For purposes of determining our Number of Partners, we treat each partner account who registers as a partner with an ability to earn on our platform as a partner. We believe that the Number of Partners is an important indicator of the growth of our business and future revenue trends.

 

GeniusU’s partners represent all our partners including our community partners and our faculty, whereas the partners in UAV and Education Angels represent the number of faculty members, and partners in PIN represent the city hosts. We plan to increase the number of partners in all group companies in 2023 and the integration of the companies with GeniusU and our Genius Curriculum.

 

The number of partners in GeniusU grew 2% in the first half of 2023. We expect a growth of 5% to 10% in partners each year. Tracking and managing our partner is a balance between growth and maintaining quality, as the quality of each partner’s courses and quality of training are important factors as they go through their certification process.

 

At the end of June 2023, the Acquisitions added 1,777 to the group total. UAV has 209 partners and faculty size, PIN has 134 active affiliates and partners, Education Angels works with 127 partners, ESQ has 45 partners and faculty and RF has 1,262 partners.

 

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Overall, pro forma numbers for the Group including the Acquisitions reflect a 1% growth in total partners in 2023. We see this key measure as a measure of the scalability in the delivery of the Genius Curriculum, as each partner attracts their own students to GeniusU and as partners are joining from all parts of the world, we are able to overcome the two largest bottlenecks to the growth of most education companies: location and teachers.

 

Number of Partners

 

 

Number of Partners

 

   Total 
Six months ended June 30, 2023   14,942 
Year ended December 31, 2022   14,760 
Year ended December 31, 2021   11,414 

 

Operating Results

 

Results for the Six Months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the Six months ended June 30, 2022

 

The below discussion and analysis are for the six months ended June 30, 2023 unaudited financials compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022 unaudited financials of the Pre-IPO Group (Genius Group Ltd, GeniusU Ltd, Entrepreneurs Institute, and Entrepreneur Resorts). For simplicity, any reference to the year 2023 is with reference to the 6 months financials as of and for the period ended June 30, 2023, and any reference to the year 2022 is with reference to the 6 months financials as of and for the period ended June 30, 2022.

 

Discussion and analysis are also included for the first half of 2023 pro forma financials for Genius Group compared to first half of 2022, including the consolidated financials for the Pre-IPO Group, and the financials of the Acquisitions and excluding spin off entity, Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd.

 

For clarity, each section below has separate paragraphs with discussion and analysis for the Group audited financials, and discussion and analysis for the Genius Group unaudited pro forma financials (including the Acquisitions).

 

Revenue: Our unaudited Group revenues increased from $5.3 million in 2022 to $11.8 million in the first half year ended June 30, 2023. This was driven by an increase in Education Revenue of 161% from $3.4 million to $8.9 million and increase in campus revenue by 50% from $1.9 million in 2022 to $2.8 million in 2023.

 

The $8.9 million in pro forma total revenue was the combination of $1.3 million in revenue from the Pre-IPO Group, and $7.6 million in revenue from the Acquisitions. Acquisition revenue further breaks down to the following: University of Antelope Valley, $3.1 million in revenue (35% of total); Property Investors Network, $1.9 million in revenue (21% of total); Education Angels, $0.5 million in revenue (6% of total); E-Square, $0.3 million in revenue (3% of total) and Revealed Films, $1.6 million in revenue (18% of total).

 

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Our two main revenue segments are Education Revenue and Campus Revenue. Education Revenue consists of Digital Education Revenue, where the courses are delivered virtually on GeniusU, and In-Person Education Revenue, where the courses are delivered to our students with the aid of our faculty in-person. Digital Education Revenue also includes Revealed Films docuseries sales and their third-party affiliate sales commissions. Campus Revenue consists of revenue we generate from our locations through accommodation, food and beverage charges.

 

The following table shows the breakdown of this revenue into segments for both Genius Group and the audited Group:

 

   Genius Group  

Genius Group

 Derived from unaudited

 
   Pro forma   Financials 
   Six months Ended   Six months Ended 
   June 30,   June 30, 
   2023   2022   2023   2022 
   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s)   (USD 000’s) 
Digital Education Revenue   4,990    8,036    4,990    3,282 
In-Person Education Revenue   3,972    4,546    3,972    170 
Total Education Revenue   8,962    12,582    8,962    3,452 
Campus Revenue   -    -    2,834    1,891 
Total Revenue   8,962    12,582    11,796    5,343 

 

Pro forma revenue is derived by reducing the financial impact of spin off of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd and adding back acquisition financials for the period prior to acquisition date.

 

Included in the pro-forma revenue for six months ended June 2023, the acquisitions of UAV generated revenue of $3.1 million compared to $3.88 million for first half of 2022. The reduction reflects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on on-campus learning, and the delayed effect of transitioning to online learning. The campus returned to full operations since September 2021, however, the student enrollment remained affected due to travel restrictions and global market conditions. PIN’s revenue was $1.97 million compared to $1.35 million in first half of 2022. PIN was not able to re-commence operating successful physical events which resulted in decreased revenue. Education Angels revenue was $0.55 million as compared to $0.5 million in first half of 2022, E-Square revenue was $0.3 million compared to $0.34 million for first half of 2022 and Revealed Films reported revenue of $1.64 million in first half of 2023 compared to $3.6 million in first half of 2022. The RF revenue decrease was related to lower films released and lower third-party affiliate sales in 2023. ERL Revenue of $2.8 million and $1.9 million for 2023 and 2022 respectively is excluded from the pro-forma financials.

 

Cost of Revenue: The Group’s cost of revenue was $5.59 million in first half of 2023 with $6.2 million in gross profit, giving us a 52.58% gross margin, compared to $3.11 million in first half of 2022 with $2.23 million in gross profit. Our cost of revenue declined in percentage terms in 2023 as a result of improved results from our campus business and the acquisitions which has a higher gross margin.

 

Genius Group’s pro forma cost of revenue in first half of 2023 was $4.63 million, delivering a gross profit of $4.3 million and a 48.32% gross margin, compared to 2022 pro forma cost of revenue which was $5.2 million, delivering a gross profit of $6.9 million and a 57.15% gross margin. By owning the majority of our own curriculum and courses across all companies and acquisitions, we are focused on maintaining a low cost of content and a high gross margin. The cost of revenue that we do incur is mainly our customer acquisition costs and our faculty costs.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, UAV had $1.9 million in direct cost with 39% gross margin compared to $1.2 million in direct cost with a 59% gross margin in first half of 2022 on proforma basis. The increase in cost of sales was mainly due to the campus returning to full operation in 2022. PIN had $0.9 million in direct cost with 56% gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $0.8 million in direct cost with a 41% gross margin in first half of 2022. The increase in cost of sales was mainly due to a return to holding physical events which failed to generate the desired revenue. Education Angels had a $0.2 million direct cost with a 56% gross margin for the half year ended June 30, 2023, compared to $0.16 million in direct costs with a 67% margin in first half of 2022. E-Square had $0.2 million in direct costs with 42% gross margin for the half year ended June 30, 2023 and historically E-Square has included all costs in overhead and did not report any direct costs. For the half year ended June 30, 2023, Revealed Films had a $0.8 million in direct cost with $0.8 million in gross profit delivering 49% gross margin.

 

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UAV’s, Education Angel, and E-Square direct costs are largely faculty, teacher and course costs, and they have historically spent a minimal amount on marketing, whereas PIN’s cost is made up largely of digital marketing, commission and event costs. Through the first half of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, with the exception of PIN, none of the Acquisitions were yet implementing any of the growth strategies utilized by the Pre-IPO Group. We expect cost of revenue to decrease as we synchronize and rationalize the process and gross margins to increase as revenues grow, as we apply our marketing and partner costs to grow these companies.

 

Operating Expenses: The Group had operating expense of $15.36 million in the first half of 2023 compared to $5.2 million in first half of 2022. Approximately 60% of our operating expense is our staff costs, with the remaining in development costs, marketing, rental, legal and general expenses. The increase in our operating expenses is the result of the growth in our operations, acquisition of companies, legal and professional expenses in our listed company. As with our cost of goods sold, historically we have been managing our overhead to maintain a sustainable growth rate, in order that additional funds raised may be invested largely in acquisitions.

 

Genius Group’s pro forma operating expenses were $13.75 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

 

Of our Acquisitions, in the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, UAV had $2.8 million in operating expenses, compared to $2.7m in 2022, PIN had $0.9 million for the half year ended June 30, 2023, compared to $0.7 million in 2022, Education Angels had $0.4 million for the half year ended June 30, 2023, compared to $0.3 million in 2022, E-Square had $0.14 million for the half year ended June 30, 2023, compared to $0.3 million in 2022 and RF had $2.4 million in first half of 2022 compared to $1.2 million in 2022.

 

Additional Income: Additional Income was $0.06 million for the half year ended June 30, 2023 compared to $0.03 million in 2022. Genius Group’s pro forma additional income was $0.02 for the six months ended June 30, 2023

 

Additional Expenses: The Group also had $2 million in other expenses in the first half year ended June 30, 2023 compared to $0.5 million in 2022. The increase was due mainly due to interest expense of $1.9 million.

 

Genius Group’s pro forma other expenses were $1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

 

Results for the Year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the Year ended December 31, 2021

 

The below discussion and analysis are for the 2022 audited financials compared to the 2021 audited financials of the Pre-IPO Group (Genius Group Ltd, GeniusU Ltd, Entrepreneurs Institute, and Entrepreneur Resorts). For simplicity, any reference to the year 2022 is with reference to the 12 months financials as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, and any reference to the year 2021 is with reference to the 12 months financials as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

Discussion and analysis are also included for the 2022 pro forma financials for Genius Group compared to 2021, including the consolidated audited financials for the Pre-IPO Group, and the financials of the Acquisitions and excluding spin off entity, Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd.

 

For clarity, each section below has separate paragraphs with discussion and analysis for the Group audited financials, and discussion and analysis for the Genius Group unaudited pro forma financials (including the Acquisitions).

 

Revenue: The $23.5 million in pro forma total revenue was the combination of $4.8 million in revenue from the Pre-IPO Group, and $18.6 million in revenue from the Acquisitions. Acquisition revenue further breaks down to the following: University of Antelope Valley, $8.1 million in revenue (35% of total); Property Investors Network, $3.0 million in revenue (13% of total); Education Angels, $0.9 million in revenue (4% of total); E-Square, $0.6 million in revenue (3% of total) and Revealed Films, $5.9 million in revenue (25% of total).

 

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Our two main revenue segments are Education Revenue and Campus Revenue. Education Revenue consists of Digital Education Revenue, where the courses are delivered virtually on GeniusU, and In-Person Education Revenue, where the courses are delivered to our students with the aid of our faculty in-person. Digital Education Revenue also includes Revealed Films docuseries sales and their third-party affiliate sales commissions. Campus Revenue consists of revenue we generate from our locations through accommodation, food and beverage charges.

 

Our audited Group revenues increased from $8.3 million in 2021 to $18.2 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. This was driven by an increase in Education Revenue of 161% from $5.2 million to $13.6 million and increase in campus revenue by 50% from $3.1 million in 2021 to $4.6 million in 2022.

 

The following table shows the breakdown of this revenue into segments for both Genius Group and the audited Group:

 

    Genius Group     Genius Group  
    Pro forma     Derived from Audited Financials  
    Year Ended     Year Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2022     2021     2022     2021  
    (USD 000’s)     (USD 000’s)     (USD 000’s)     (USD 000’s)  
Digital Education Revenue     13,772       10,286       8,012       5,194  
In-Person Education Revenue     9,654       10,699       5,544       0  
Total Education Revenue     23,426       20,985       13,556       5,194  
Campus Revenue     44       -       4,638       3,101  
Total Revenue     23,470       20,985       18,194       8,295  

 

Pro forma revenue is derived by reducing the financial impact of spin off of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd and adding back acquisition financials for the period prior to acquisition date.

 

Included in the pro-forma revenue for 2022, the acquisitions of UAV generated revenue of $8.1 million compared to $9.0 million for 2021. The reduction reflects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on on-campus learning, and the delayed effect of transitioning to online learning. The campus returned to full operations since September 2021, however, the student enrollment remained affected due to travel restrictions and global market conditions. PIN’s revenue was $3.0 million compared to $5.1 million in 2021. PIN was not able to re-commence operating successful physical events which resulted in decreased revenue. Education Angels revenue was $0.9 million for both 2022 and 2021, E-Square revenue was $0.6 million compared to $0.7 million for 2021 and Revealed Films reported revenue of $5.9 million in 2022 compared to $13.4 million in 2021. The RF revenue decrease was related to lower films released and lower third-party affiliate sales in 2022. ERL Revenue of $4.7 million and $3.1 for 2022 and 2021 respectively is excluded from the pro-forma financials.

 

Cost of Revenue: The Group’s cost of revenue was $9.6 million in 2022 with $8.6 million gross profit, for a 47% gross margin. The Group’s cost of revenue was $5.5 million in 2021 with $2.8 million in gross profit, for a 33% gross margin. Our cost of revenue decreased in percentage terms to revenue in 2022 as a result of acquisition expense synergies and the inclusion of higher gross margin acquisitions.

 

Genius Group’s pro forma cost of revenue in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 was $10.6 million, delivering a gross profit of $12.9 million and a 55% gross margin. By owning the majority of our own curriculum and courses across all companies and acquisitions, we are focused on maintaining a low cost of content and a high gross margin. The cost of revenue that we do incur is mainly our customer acquisition costs and our faculty costs.

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, on a pro-forma basis, UAV had $3.9 million in direct cost with 52% gross margin compared to $3.5 million in direct cost with a 61% gross margin in 2021. The increase in cost of sales was mainly due to the campus returning to full operation in 2022. PIN had $1.4 million in direct cost with 53% gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $1.9 million in direct cost with a 63% gross margin in 2021. The increase in cost of sales was mainly due to a return to holding physical events which failed to generate the desired revenue. Education Angels had a $0.4 million direct cost with a 60% gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $0.5 million in direct costs with a 51% margin in 2021. E-Square had $0.3 million in direct costs with 53% gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2022 and historically E-Square has included all costs in overhead and did not report any direct costs. For the year ended December 31, 2022, Revealed Films had a $1.9 million in direct cost with $4.0 million in gross profit delivering 68% gross margin.

 

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UAV’s, Education Angel, and E-Square direct costs are largely faculty, teacher and course costs, and they have historically spent a minimal amount on marketing, whereas PIN’s cost is made up largely of digital marketing, commission and event costs. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, with the exception of PIN, none of the Acquisitions were yet implementing any of the growth strategies utilized by the Pre-IPO Group. We expect cost of revenue to decrease as we synchronize and rationalize the process and gross margins to increase as revenues grow, as we apply our marketing and partner costs to grow these companies.

 

Operating Expenses: The Group had operating expenses of $50.5 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $7.3 million 2021. Approximately 56% of our operating expense is due to impairment loss on goodwill of $28.2 million and most of the remaining 44% is due to General and Administrative expenses. The administrative expenses include cost for our staff costs, professional and consulting fees, development costs, marketing, rental and general expenses. The increase in our operating expenses is the result of the growth in our operations, the expansion of our curriculum and IPO, legal and listing expenses.

 

Genius Group’s pro forma operating expenses were $45.3 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

 

Of our Acquisitions, on a pro-forma basis in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, UAV had $18.2 million in operating expenses compared to $7.2 million in 2021, PIN had $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $1.3 million in 2021, Education Angels had $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $0.5 million in 2021, E-Square had $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $0.6 million in 2021 and RF had $4.2 million in 2022 compared to $6.3 million in 2021. For UAV, the increase in operating expenses is due mainly to the impairment loss of $11.2 million and administrative expenses increased due to campus returning to full operation since September. In the case of PIN, the increase in operating expenses is mainly due to impairment expenses of $5.8 million and administrative expenses increased due to the shift from physical event costs to digital courses and PIN’s online strategy. For ESQ, the increase is mainly due to impairment expenses of $2.3. For RF, the decrease in cost is mainly due to lower revenues.

 

Additional Income: Additional Income was $0.4 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 compared to nil 2021. Genius Group’s pro forma additional income was $1 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. In 2022, UAV recorded $0.8 million benefit from the write off of a loan from the prior owners compared to $1.2 million in additional income for forgiveness of a note payable through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Cares Act in 2021.

 

Additional Expenses: The Group also had $15.2 million in other expenses in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $0.5 million in 2021. The increase was due mainly to change in the fair value of contingent consideration of $13.8 million and interest expense of $1.3 million. Genius Group’s pro forma other expenses were $14.8 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Implemented

 

Amendments to IFRS 3 Reference to the Conceptual Framework Relating to    
     
Business Combinations   January 1, 2022
     
Amendments to IAS 37 Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract   January 1, 2022
     
Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2021   January 1, 2022
     
Amendments to IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment – Proceeds before Intended Use   January 1, 2022

 

The Company’s adoption of the standards above had no material impact on the consolidated financial statements in the year of initial application.

 

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B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, short term investments, and cash generated from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments consist mostly of cash on deposit with banks. As of June 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $2.6 million maintained at various financial institutions. We have funded our operations primarily through cash flows from operations, and have raised capital for the purpose of business acquisitions and development of the technology platform.

 

We will repatriate cash from our subsidiaries by repayment of intercompany balances where in existence until exhausted, and otherwise by way of dividends. Any repatriation of cash in the form of a taxable payment, such as a dividend distribution, would generally be tax exempt in Singapore or otherwise taxable at the Singapore standard corporate tax rate, which is currently 17%.

 

In April 2022, the Company completed its Initial Public Offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Total gross proceeds from the IPO was $22.5 million and was used to pay the IPO expenses, acquisition payouts and the growth of the business. Further in September 2022, the Company closed the follow-on round for $17.0 million.

 

We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents, short term investments, and the cash flow we generate from our operations will not be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure needs and other liquidity requirements for the next 12 months. However, our future capital requirements may be materially different than those currently planned in our budgeting and forecasting activities and depend on many factors, including our rate of revenue growth, the timing and extent of spending on content and research and development, the expansion of our sales and marketing activities, the timing of new product introductions, market acceptance of our products, our continued international expansion, the acquisition of other companies, competitive factors, and overall economic conditions, globally. To the extent that current and anticipated future sources of liquidity are insufficient to fund our future business activities and requirements, we may be required to seek additional equity or debt financing. The sale of additional equity would result in additional dilution to our shareholders, while the incurrence of debt financing would result in debt service obligations. Such debt instruments also could introduce covenants that might restrict our operations.

 

Cash Flow

 

Group — Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Data:

 

   For the half year ended   For the year ended 
   June 30, 2023   December 31, 2022 
   (USD)   (USD) 
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities   (8,534,705)   (8,236,431)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities   (2,752,801)   (10,089,489)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities   8,841,547    21,943,461 

 

As of June 30, 2023, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of $2.6 million maintained at various financial institutions. We have funded our operations primarily through cash flows from operations, and have raised capital for the purpose of business acquisitions and development of the technology platform.

 

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Half Year Ended June 30, 2023 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

Operating Activities:

 

Operating activities used $8.5 million of cash in first half of 2023. The cash flow from operating activities primarily came from $10.8 million of net loss after tax, adjusted for $3.5 million of non-cash items, and an increase in working capital of $1.26 million.

 

Operating activities used $8.2 million of cash in 2022.

 

Investing Activities

 

Our main capital investing activities have consisted of the acquisition of existing businesses and development cost of our technology education platform. We estimate that our ongoing capital requirements will be dictated by market opportunities for acquisition in the education and hospitality sectors, and the rate of development of the Edtech platform. Net cash used in investing activities was $2.7 million in first half of 2023 compared to $10.09 million in 2022.

 

The major reason for the decrease in 2022 was due to cash consideration of $8.8 million paid for five acquisitions and $0.7 million of costs for technology platform development in 2022.

 

Financing Activities:

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $8.8 million in 2023 compared to $21.9 million in 2022.

 

In first half of June 30, 2023, the Company received the balance $9 million from convertible debt issuance 2022. Between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the Company raised $17.3 million net cash from IPO, $4.2 million from convertible note issuance and $2.7 million from equity issuance for GeniusU and Genius Group

 

Indebtedness

 

Convertible Debt

 

During the year ended 2019, Entrepreneur Resorts issued 36-month convertible loans in the principal amount of $2,256,178 which bear interest at rates between 10% to 12% per annum, payable monthly, quarterly, annually or at maturity depending upon the convertible note (the “2019 Convertible Notes).

 

During the year ended December 31, 2020, Genius Group Ltd issued 36-month convertible loans in the principal amount of $1,819,145 which bear interest at rates between 10% to 12% per annum, payable quarterly, annually or at maturity depending upon the convertible note (the “2019 Convertible Notes”). The convertible notes are convertible at the end of the term at the market price.

 

During the year ended 2022, Genius Group Ltd entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement to issue convertible loan in the principal amount of $18,130,000 in face amount of a senior secured convertible note purchased for $17,000,000 by the selling shareholder or its affiliates or assigns in a transaction that closed on August 26, 2022, which is convertible into our ordinary shares at an initial fixed price of $5.17, subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, anti-dilution and other customary adjustment events. The ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the convertible note are being registered and will be sold pursuant to this prospectus by the selling shareholder. In addition, subject to the satisfaction of equity conditions, we may, at our election, make monthly principal amortization payments in our ordinary shares. If we elect to make amortization payments in ordinary shares, such ordinary shares will be valued at the lowest of (x) the fixed conversion price, (y) 90% of the volume weighted average price of our ordinary shares on the trading day preceding the amortization payment date and (z) 90% of the average of the three lowest volume weighted average prices for our ordinary shares during the 20 trading days preceding the amortization payment date. This convertible loan has been paid in full as of the date of this prospectus. Effective as of June 23, 2023, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 650,000 ordinary shares with a five year term and a per share strike price of $0.69 to a placement agent in regards to an August 2022 private placement.

 

During the first half of 2023, the Company converted $6,147,954 of aggregate outstanding principal and $846,345 of accrued interest to issue 23,046,941 ordinary shares which includes 13.0 million ordinary shares relating to the redemption of convertible notes due for the period from January 2023 to March 2023. During July and Aug 2023, the Company further converted total consideration of $11,032,540 to issue 22,192,694 ordinary shares.

 

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company and holders of 2019 Convertible Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $46,884 and $228 of accrued interest were converted into 13,487 Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd ordinary shares and 1,003 GeniusU Ltd ordinary shares pursuant to conversion offers extended by Genius Group Ltd. and GeniusU Ltd at exercise prices equal to the fair value of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd and GeniusU Ltd ordinary share at the time of conversion. The Company recorded the conversions by reclassifying the carrying value of the 2019 Convertible Notes to equity.

 

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During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company and holder of 2019 Convertible Notes in the aggregate amount of $503,311 was repaid and $4,454 along with the accrued interest of $18 were converted to into 743 Genius Group shares pursuant to conversion offer extended by Genius Group Ltd.

 

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company and holders of 2020 Convertible Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $161,500 and $6,170 of accrued interest were converted into 13,306 GeniusU Ltd ordinary shares pursuant to conversion offers extended by Genius Group Ltd and GeniusU Ltd at exercise prices equal to the fair value of a GeniusU Ltd ordinary share at the time of conversion. The Company recorded the conversions by reclassifying the carrying value of the 2020 Convertible Notes to equity.

 

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the Company and holder of 2020 Convertible Notes in the agreement amount of $6,000 was repaid and $221,000 along with the accrued interest of $3,764 were converted into 37,463 Genius Group shares pursuant to conversion offer extended by Genius Group Ltd.

 

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the Company and holder of 2022 Convertible Note converted aggregate amount of $707,306 including the accrued interest of $235,146 into the equity of Genius Group based on the share price calculated as per the agreement. The Company issued 1,515,891 Genius Group Shares to fulfill the conversion request.

 

On July 26, 2023, Genius Group Ltd. (the “Company”) executed and delivered a bridge note with an accredited investor in the face amount of $3.2 million, which has a $200,000 original issue discount. Pursuant to the bridge note, $1,000,000 shall be delivered to a bank account identified by the Company upon closing and the Company shall keep $2,000,000 of the Loan Proceeds on deposit in a blocked account subject to an account control agreement with the investor. The proceeds held in the blocked account may be released at the investor’s discretion on each of August 24, 2023 and September 24, 2023. The maturity date of the bridge note is the earlier of November 24, 2023 and the date of entry into definitive documentation or funding of a Subsequent Financing. Simultaneously with the execution of the bride note, the Company’s entered into an amendment agreement with investor with respect to the original note with the accredited investor issued on August 26, 2022, and due February 26, 2025 (“Note”) was reverted to its original terms prior to the amendments previously announced on March 28, 2023, with certain modifications permitting the Company to consummate its previously announced spin off and future financings pursuant to a registration statement to be filed in conjunction therewith. The investor and the Company agree to that the investor may accelerate monthly installment payments under the Note with respect to current and future monthly installments in accordance with Section 8(e) of the Note, provided that Holder agrees that it will no longer accelerate any Installment Amount pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Note as amended by this Amendment following the earlier to occur of (A) the date that the Company consummates a public offering of its Ordinary Shares, or units comprised of Ordinary Shares and warrants to purchase its Ordinary Shares, which results in aggregate Net Proceeds to the Company equal to at least 130% of the sum of (x) the entire outstanding Conversion Amount of the Notes and (y) the entire outstanding principal balance of the Bridge Loan (such sum of (x) and (y), the “Aggregate Debt”) measured as of the Trading Day prior to the consummation of such public offering and (B) such time that the Aggregate Debt is less than $4,000,000 (all capitalized terms used and not defined herein are used as defined in the Note).

 

Other credit facilities

 

In September of 2019, the Company obtained lines of credit in the aggregate amount of S$400,000 (approximately $296,912 at the 2019 exchange rate) for working capital and business expansions requirements in Wealth Dynamics Pte Ltd, which the Company drew down on in full. Loans in the amount of S$100,000 (approximately $74,228 at the 2019 exchange rate) shall be repaid over 36 monthly installments including both principal and the respective accrued interest. Interest on such principal shall bear at a rate of 8% per annum plus a margin of 0.88%, subject to adjustment. The Company has the option to prepay the loan before its maturity date, subject to a fee of 6.88% if paid within twelve months from the drawdown date. Loans in the amount of S$300,000 (approximately $222,684 at the 2019 exchange rate) shall be repaid over 60 monthly installments including both principal and the respective accrued interest. Interest on such principal shall bear at a rate of 6.25% per annum, subject to adjustment. The loans are secured by personal guarantees of the Director. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company repaid an aggregate of S$98,589, approximately $72,492 at the 2022 exchange rate (2021 — S$91,063 approximately $67,220 at the 2021 exchange rate) of principal plus the respective accrued interest.

 

S-67

 

 

Education Angels has obtained line of credit for working capital requirement in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The outstanding principal as at June 30, 2023 is as follows -

 

Loan Type  Start Date   Loan Amount   Tenure   Interest Rate   Outstanding As of June 30, 2023 
IRD Loan   2020   $20,063    60 Months    3.25%  $13,164 
Juke NWN765   2021   $19,679    36 Months    1.30%  $9,031 
Qashqai NWN767   2021   $22,258    36 Months    1.20%  $10,161 
Qashqai NWN766   2022   $22,258    36 Months    1.20%  $10,161 

 

Mastermind Principles and Property Investors Network has obtained line of credit for the working capital requirement in 2020 and 2022. The outstanding principal amount as of June 30, 2023 is as follows -

 

Loan Type  Start Date   Loan Amount   Tenure   Interest Rate   Outstanding As of June 30, 2023 
Lloyds CBIL (MPL)   2020   $239,540    60 Months    2.8%  $150,642 
Funding Circle Loan (MPL)   2022   $380,804    48 Months    9.30%  $272,356 
The Funding Circle (PIN)   2022   $116,054    48 Months    9.30%  $82,319 
Lloyds Bounceback Loan (PIN)   2022   $51,378    72 months    2.5%  $36,823 

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

Our principal commitments consist of obligations under operating leases. The following table sets forth the principal commitments as of June 30, 2023:

 

Within one year  $1,702,541 
Two to five years   6,144,383 
Thereafter   16,280,925 
    24,127,849 
Less: finance charges component   (11,365,196)
   $12,762,653 

 

The material terms of these agreements are as follows:

 

Tau Game Lodge Pty Ltd (lodge) — The lease period is December 1, 1994 to November 30, 2034. The Company is currently in negotiations to extend the term of the lease to November 30, 2047. The rental is made up of a fixed amount which increases by 10% on each anniversary during the term of the lease and a variable amount being 8% of turnover. As of June 30, 2023, the lease commitment for the fixed amount for the following one year totaled $73,749. The lease is related to spin-off entity, Entrepreneur Resorts Limited.

 

Tau Game Lodge Pty Ltd (office) — The lease period is February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2023. The basic rental amount increases by 8% on each anniversary during the term of the lease. In January 2023, the new lease agreement was entered for the period February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024. As of June 30, 2023, the lease commitment for the following one year totaled $10,534. The lease is related to spin-off entity, Entrepreneur Resorts Limited.

 

Matla Game Lodge Pty Ltd — The lease period is February 1, 1997 to January 31, 2096. The rental is made up of a fixed amount which increases by 6% on each anniversary during the term of the lease. As of June 30, 2023, the lease commitment for the following one year totaled $9,374. The lease is related to spin-off entity, Entrepreneur Resorts Limited.

 

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Genius Central Singapore Pte Ltd — The lease period is October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2022 which was renewed for additional 3 years to September 30, 2025. The operating lease amount is made up of fixed rent which does not change for the term of the lease and percentage rent which is calculated as 15% of turnover. As of June 30, 2023, the fixed rent commitment for the following one year totaled $409,064. The lease is related to spin-off entity, Entrepreneur Resorts Limited.

 

University of Antelope Valley Inc leases its campus. The lease period is August 2022 to August 2034. The rental is made up of a fixed amount which increases by 3% on each anniversary during the term of the lease. As of June 30, 2023, the lease commitment for the following one year totaled $1,198,920.

 

C. Research and Development, Patents and licenses, etc.

 

For a discussion of our intellectual property, see the sections of this Prospectus titled “Intellectual Property”.

 

D. Trend Information

 

Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our net revenues, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions. For more information, see the sections of this Prospectus titled “Business Overview,” “Operating Results,” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources.

 

E. Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus, we believe that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue is recognized when the product is delivered or the service is completed without further obligation, or upon sale in the case of products or services for which the terms and conditions do not allow for cancellation or refund. Revenue in advance is recognized as a liability until the service obligation is fulfilled.

 

Share-based Compensation

 

For service-based awards, compensation expense is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period.

 

Business Combinations

 

We record our acquisitions under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with IFRS 3, except for common control business combinations as discussed below. This accounting policy is applied consistently to similar transactions. Under this method most of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are initially recorded at their respective fair values and any excess purchase price is reflected as goodwill. We utilize management estimates and, in some instances, independent third-party valuation firms to assist in determining the fair values of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and contingent consideration, if any. Such estimates and valuations require us to make significant assumptions, including projections of future events and operating performance.

 

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The fair value of customer relationships, trade names/trademarks, patents, licenses, brand, human capital, and intellectual property acquired in our business combinations are determined using various valuation methods, based on a number of significant assumptions.

 

Common control business combinations are outside the scope of IFRS 3. The Company has elected to account for common control business combinations using the book value method. This accounting policy is applied consistently to similar transactions. The Company’s policy is to present the financial statements for the pre-acquisition period to include the results of the common control entity, as if the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the earliest period presented. On the acquisition date, the Company records any difference between the acquisition consideration and the book value of net assets at that date against reserves under Stockholders’ Equity.

 

Lease Agreements

 

Pursuant to IAS 17, a lease is classified as a finance lease if it transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership. A lease is classified as an operating lease if it does not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership. For leases classified as finance leases, the property is capitalized as leasehold property and is depreciated over the lease term. Leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of their expected useful lives and the lease term.

 

Finance leases are recognized as assets and liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position at amounts equal to the fair value of the leased property or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the consolidated balance sheet as a finance lease obligation.

 

The discount rate used in calculating the present value of the minimum lease payments is the interest rate implicit in the lease. The lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge and reduction of the outstanding liability. The finance charge is allocated to each period during the lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate on the remaining balance of the liability.

 

Operating lease payments are recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between the amounts recognized as an expense and the contractual payments are recognized as an operating lease asset. This liability is not discounted. Any contingent rents are expensed in the period they are incurred.

 

The Company adopted IFRS 16, Leases (“IFRS 16’) on January 1, 2019.

 

Goodwill Impairment

 

We are required to assess our goodwill for impairment at least annually for each cash generating unit (“CGU”) that carries goodwill. Goodwill is allocated to CGUs and tested for impairment at least annually, either as part of testing of individual CGUs if there is an indicator of impairment, or as a separate test if there is no indicator of impairment. Or of impairment. For impairment testing purposes, goodwill is allocated to those CGUs or groups of CGUs that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination even if no other assets or liabilities of the acquiree are assigned to that CGU. The allocation is determined as at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is impaired if the carrying amount of the CGUs to which it is allocated exceeds the recoverable amount (the higher of fair value and value in use) of the CGUs. An impairment loss is the excess of an asset’s CGU carrying amount over its recoverable amount.

 

Emerging Growth Company and Foreign Private Issuer Status

 

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other burdens that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:

 

  1. to the extent that we no longer qualify as a foreign private issuer, (i) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and (ii) exemptions from the requirement to hold a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation, including golden parachute compensation;

 

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  2. an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and
  3. an exemption from compliance with the requirement that the PCAOB has adopted regarding a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements.

 

We may take advantage of these exemptions for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; (iii) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC; or (iv) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Merger. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these exemptions.

 

In addition, under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. Further, even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements, including reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements.

 

We are also a “foreign private issuer.” Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, as long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:

 

  the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations with respect to a security registered under the Exchange Act;
     
  the requirement to comply with Regulation FD, which requires selective disclosure of material information;
     
  the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and
     
  the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events.

 

We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We would cease to be a foreign private issuer at such time as more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (i) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents; (ii) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States; or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States.

 

Off-balance sheet arrangements

 

As of June 30, 2023, we do not have transactions with unconsolidated entities, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, whereby we have financial guarantees, subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments, or other contingent arrangements that expose us to material continuing risks, contingent liabilities, or any other obligation under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk, or credit risk support to us.

 

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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Interest rate fluctuations, primarily due to the uncertain future behavior of markets, may have a material impact on the financial results of a company. Given the fact that the Company has no outstanding bank borrowings or loans, we believe we have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest rates. However, we cannot provide assurance that we will not be exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest rate in the future.

 

Foreign Exchange Risk

 

The functional currency of our operating subsidiary is SGD, and therefore our operations are exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Our results of operations and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly changes in the SGD to the U.S. dollar.

 

Our financial results should also be read in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which had its impact mainly in 2020 and 2021. In 2021 the pandemic disrupted the global economy. This negatively impacted large populations including people and businesses that may be directly or indirectly involved with the operation of our Company, products, and services.

 

Our response to these challenges was to cut costs, obtain landlord support where relevant and redeploy staff members where possible. At some properties, closure created opportunities for maintenance and renovation activities, as well as staff training. This enabled us to reopen efficiently when allowed. During 2021 all of our campus venues in Entrepreneur Resorts began to reopen in line with easing of pandemic restrictions and revenue increased to $4.6 million in 2022 from $3.1 million in 2021.

 

While campus revenue was negatively impacted in the Pre-IPO Group, online revenue has been positively impacted. Education revenue grew by 160% from $5.2 million in 2021 to $13.5 million in 2022 as more people worked from home or in a hybrid office model. This has been due to the continued growth of the courses and students on GeniusU, together with the growth in faculty and partners who have chosen GeniusU as the platform where they are marketing and delivering courses. At the end of 2022 the Pre-IPO Group had 13,005 partners compared to 10,217 at the end of 2021.

 

The five Acquisitions were also impacted by COVID-19.

 

The University of Antelope Valley was directly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak (COVID- 19). In March 2020, UAV received approval for total of $1,613,796 grants through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) under the Cares Act. In May 2020, UAV received approval for a $1,136,120 note payable through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Cares Act. This note was forgiven in November 2020, and the forgiveness was recorded as other income in 2021. The UAV campus closed from March 2020 to September 2021; all UAV revenue became digital education revenue and all faculty and students proceeded with their courses online. The result of this is that the UAV faculty and staff have experienced the effectiveness that online delivery can have, and we believe this will support our post-acquisition integration and expansion plan, as we create and deliver UAV’s first online certification and degree programs on GeniusU.

 

Property Investors Network was impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak as the business model had previously been designed to operate investor education events in-person at venues. However, the company adapted and took the opportunity to transform the model to a digital online operation. Programs such as PIN meetings, events, workshops and accelerators were switched to an online format which resulted in increased revenue and margins for the company in the first half of 2021Our post- acquisition plan is to continue to expand on this digital revenue model supplemented by in-person local meetings connected to course content and connections on our GeniusU Edtech platform.

 

In 2020 E-Square ceased all in-person classes in South Africa for its students in response to COVID-19. However, as all course work at E-Square is already conducted online using the student’s smart phones, the move to fully online courses took place without any loss of students or revenues. Based on our post- IPO plans, we believe E-Square will benefit from the anticipated shift towards increased online education. Similar to UAV, E-Square reopened its campus in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in September 2021 and has moved its digital revenue back to in-person revenue. Also similar to UAV, the school’s experience with digital delivery has prepared the staff and faculty for our post- acquisition integration and expansion plan in which we plan to expand E-Square’s most popular courses online.

 

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Education Angels, a New Zealand based home childcare and education company, was able to maintain its model of delivering its education digitally to its in-home educators throughout COVID-19 restrictions and this model continues as restrictions in New Zealand are lifted.

 

Revealed Films, a Delaware based Film Production Company, was able to run its operations and launch films to deliver to the digital audience throughout the COVID-19 restrictions and this model did not have an impact even after the restrictions are lifted in the United States.

 

We believe that the positive impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the shift towards online education is reflected in the two companies in the group that are currently focused on using our Edtech platform and delivering online courses.

 

We expect this trend towards online education to be a long-term shift, and based on our post-IPO plans for each of the Acquisitions to digitize and distribute their courses online via GeniusU, we believe this will have a net positive impact. The pro forma digital revenue of the Group including the Acquisitions reduced to $5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $8 million in 2022. We anticipate that the percentage of education revenue generated by the Group will rise as the growth rate of the digital revenue segment generated by the Group continues to exceed the in-person education.

 

BUSINESS

 

History and development of the Company.

 

Our Company

 

We believe that we are a world leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group based on student numbers with a student base of 3.34 million on GeniusU at the end of June 2023. Our mission is to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, lifelong learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed in today’s market.

 

To help achieve our mission, we have completed an IPO on NYSE American, on April 14, 2022. We have also raised follow on Convertible Note in September 2022. We grew from a Pre-IPO Group of four companies to a post IPO Group of nine companies, once the five Acquisitions closed.

 

Our Pre-IPO Group includes our holding company, Genius Group Ltd, our Edtech platform, GeniusU Ltd, and two companies that were acquired: Entrepreneurs Institute in 2019 and Entrepreneur Resorts in 2020 (spin-off completed on October 2, 2023).

 

The entrepreneur education system of our Pre-IPO Group has been delivered virtually and in-person, in multiple languages, locally and globally mainly via our GeniusU Edtech platform to adults seeking to grow their entrepreneur and leadership skills. Our partners and community are global with an average of 8,900 new students joining our GeniusU platform each week in 2023. Our City Leaders have been conducting our events (physically or virtually) in over 100 cities and over 2,500+ faculty members have been operating their microschools using our online tools.

 

We are now expanding our education system to age groups beyond our adult audience, to children and young adults. The five Acquisitions are our first step towards this. They include: Education Angels, which provides early learning in New Zealand for children from 0-5 years old; E-Square, which provides primary and secondary school education in South Africa; University of Antelope Valley, which provides vocational certifications and university degrees in California, USA; Property Investors Network, which provides property investment courses and events in England, UK; and Revealed Films, a media production company that specializes in multi-part documentaries.

 

Our plan is to combine their education programs with our current education programs and Edtech platform as part of one lifelong learning system, and we have selected these acquisitions because they already share aspects of our Genius Curriculum and our focus on entrepreneur education.

 

The five Acquisitions have added $7.6 million in revenue to the Group in the six months ended June 30, 2023, which represents 85% of the $8.9 million pro forma Group revenue during this period, while the Pre-IPO Group generated $1.3 million. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the five Acquisitions have added $18.6 million in revenue to the Group, which represents 79% of the $23.5 million pro forma Group revenue during this period, while the Pre-IPO Group generated $4.9 million.

 

In coming years, we plan to continue the growth of our Group through a combination of organic growth of our Edtech platform together with the acquisition of various education companies that we believe provide complementary programs that can be added to our Genius Curriculum. This Prospectus provides details of both our acquisition strategy together with our plans to integrate these Acquisitions together with future acquisitions into our Edtech platform, “entrepreneur education” vision, Genius Curriculum and “freemium” student and partner conversion models.

 

We define “entrepreneur education” as personalized discovery-based learning that leads to higher levels of self-awareness, self-mastery and self-expression. We believe this in turn develops leadership and entrepreneurial skills through which students can independently create value and “create a job” rather than being dependent on a system in which they need to “get a job”. We believe these skills can be nurtured from an early age.

 

We also believe these skills can be learned at any age, enabling adults to reskill and upskill themselves. We describe our Genius Curriculum, together with the philosophy, principles, learning methodology, course content and delivery of our curriculum in the “Our Genius Curriculum” section below.

 

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We believe one of the industry’s most in need of disruption and upgrading is the global education and training industry, which education market intelligence firm HolonIQ forecasts to grow to $10 trillion in size by 2030. The 2020 World Economic Forum “Schools of the Future” report highlights the urgent need for a more relevant curriculum to prepare students and adults for the future. We believe that the COVID-19 crisis has put an additional spotlight on the urgent need for an updated education system that is both high-tech and high-touch.

 

We have built our Pre-IPO Group of entrepreneur education companies to date through organic growth and acquisitions, with a focus on adding value to each company through GeniusU, which we are developing to provide AI-driven personal recommendations and guidance for each student. Our growth has been internally funded from our entrepreneur community. Our IPO and the Convertible Note Raise was part of our plan in providing liquidity and a market to our existing and future shareholders, while providing funds to support our growth plan.

 

On our Edtech platform, GeniusU, we are developing our Genie AI virtual assistant to give each student a personalized learning path at every stage of their education, with an intention for this to be delivered at every age from early age to 100 years old.

 

Currently, our system begins by identifying the preferences and level of each of our adult students, who can then connect with other students, mentors and faculty members based on their talents, passions and driving purpose. Students and mentors then progress through challenge-based microschools, with credits and digital points able to be earned. GeniusU includes personal profiles for students to present themselves, dashboards to measure progress, their learning and earning metrics, communication circles to connect with other students and mentors, and a full range of continually upgraded learning modalities and assessment tools to suit each student, delivered by a combination of global and local faculty.

 

With our planned integration of additional age groups, beginning with our five Acquisitions, we now plan to extend our offering within our system so that early age to 5 year old students can learn their natural way to learn and play, 6 to 12 year old students can build their life leadership and entrepreneurial skills, 13 to 21 year old students can learn how to start their business, join our global mentorship program with a small business or learn key vocational skills in our camps and competitions, and the over 21 year old students take our courses and receive mentorship for every level of business from startup to large corporations seeking an entrepreneurial edge.

 

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We are developing this curriculum as a supplement to the existing education system, and in time we aspire to create a fully accredited replacement to the traditional U.S. school and university pathway.

 

We have grown and will continue to grow through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. Our organic growth is a result of attracting our students to the courses on our Edtech platform, and attracting partners and faculty who market and deliver the courses. These courses include our own wholly owned curriculum together with courses that our partners and faculty add to our curriculum.

 

We also partnered and intend to continue to partner with and, where appropriate, acquire companies that have courses, faculty and communities that we believe provide a valuable addition to our Group. We plan to add their courses to GeniusU, providing a full lifelong learning pathway that can be accessed by our community globally, with the direction of our Genie AI and with the support of our global and local faculty. We plan to continue this strategy of acquiring companies and then adding value to them by combining them in one Edtech platform and curriculum, which to date has enabled us to maintain 50%+ year-on-year growth (on non-preforms basis)

 

As of December 31, 2022, overall partnership revenues contribute 16% towards the revenue of the Education company, with the remaining 84% of revenue from our fully owned courses and curriculum. We have seen an increase in partners globally year on year and our partner growth in 2022 was 24% from 2021. As of the date of this Prospectus, we have over 1,400 events, courses and products listed on our digital platform; partners earn commissions as a result of sales processed through our platform. Due to the number of faculty and partners, together with the number of courses and products delivered on our platform, there is no one partner or product that makes up more than 5% of our revenues.

 

We are following a fifteen-year growth plan:

 

In phase one, from 2015 to 2020, our focus has been attracting adult entrepreneurs to use our entrepreneur education tools and proving our Edtech business model in countries around the world. The result of this phase is the Pre-IPO Group presented in this Prospectus. In phase two, from 2020 to 2025, our goal is to integrate our education tools into the existing education system through licenses, partnerships and acquisitions, with our aspiration for our entrepreneur education programs and Edtech platform becoming the programs and platform of choice by schools, colleges, universities and companies in our target markets. The IPO and the Acquisitions are the first steps in this phase.

 

In phase three, from 2025 to 2030, our goal is to have developed a full curriculum accredited and receiving funding from government bodies in the U.S., the U.K., Europe, Asia and Australasia and seen as a viable alternative by students, parents, partner schools and companies around the world to the existing education options.

 

History and Corporate Structure

 

The origins of Genius Group began in 2002 when Singapore-based entrepreneur, Roger James Hamilton created the Wealth Dynamics system as a personality profiling tool for entrepreneurs to discover their strengths and weaknesses, and build an entrepreneurial team. Over the next decade the popularity of the tool led to Roger growing Wealth Dynamics into a global company with country licenses around the world and a community of over 250,000 entrepreneurs by 2012.

 

Through the global financial crisis that commenced in 2008 it became clear to Roger Hamilton, our Chief Executive Officer, and the senior management team of Wealth Dynamics that the number of entrepreneurs and small business owners around the world was growing dramatically and in need of a training system to reduce the number of business failures. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of U.S. small businesses fail within the first year. By the end of their fifth year, roughly 50% have faltered. After 10 years, only around a third of businesses have survived.

 

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From 2012 to 2015, Genius Group developed a number of initiatives under the Entrepreneurs Institute brand. This included the Global Entrepreneur Summit and Entrepreneur Fast Track Event series, which we believe is now the largest entrepreneur seminar series hosted in 18 countries annually. It also included Talent Dynamics, a corporate version of Wealth Dynamics used by large multinationals, and a full entrepreneur system to grow from startup to the first million dollars in revenue called “The Millionaire Masterplan” which became a New York Times bestselling book in 2014.

 

During this period, Roger Hamilton also became the founding Chairman of the Green School in Bali. The Green School attracted global attention as a new model of schooling with its environmental and student- centered approach to learning. It won the inaugural “Greenest School in the World” award from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, and became a global case study for new models of schooling. It is used as the first example of 21st century schooling in the World Economic Forum’s 2020 white paper on The Future of Schools. The need for an education revolution based on a global, scalable high-tech, high-touch model led to the launch of GeniusU as an Edtech solution in 2015.

 

From 2015 to 2017, GeniusU grew rapidly from 313,000 students in the first year to 736,000 students by the third year. During this time, Entrepreneurs Institute had continued to grow and a third company under Roger Hamilton’s majority ownership, Entrepreneur Resorts Limited, had been established to expand on the successful and profitable model of providing entrepreneur retreats and co-working spaces in paradise. In August 2017, Entrepreneur Resorts consummated its initial public offering on the Seychelles TropX stock exchange, now the MERJ stock exchange, raising $3 million and acquiring Tau Game Lodge, a South African Safari Lodge to add to Entrepreneur Resorts’ property portfolio. The portfolio at that time also included Vision Villas, a Bali-based entrepreneur resort and Genius Cafe, a Bali-based entrepreneur beach club.

 

At the end of 2018, the one company in the Group was GeniusU Pte Ltd, which changed its name to Genius Group Ltd. This was in its third full year of operation as an Edtech company. Genius Group Ltd had grown in its first three years to 1.2 million students with revenues of $4.8 million and net loss of $0.5 million in 2018. Total assets at the end of 2018 were $1.7 million, total liabilities were $2.1 million and total shareholders’ deficit was $(0.4) million.

 

At the end of 2019, Genius Group had grown to include Genius Group Ltd, GeniusU Ltd and Entrepreneurs Institute, with GeniusU Ltd formed as the new Edtech company and Entrepreneurs Institute acquired as part of the Group. Combined revenues in 2019 of the Pre-IPO Group, which includes Entrepreneur Resorts, acquired in August 2020, were $9.9 million, net loss before tax was $(1.1) million after eliminations and Adjusted EBITDA was $1.2 million. Total assets at the end of 2019 were $17.6 million, total liabilities were $12.2 million and total shareholders’ equity was $5.3 million. Our revenue growth from $4.8 million in 2018 to $9.9 million in 2019, represents a 106% year-on-year increase, with 15% organic growth and 91% growth from acquisition. These four companies make up the Pre-IPO Group, and audited financials of this Pre-IPO Group are provided below for both 2019 and 2020 as they were under common control prior to the acquisitions.

 

At the end of 2020, Genius Group had entered into agreements to secure the four Acquisitions: Education Angels, E-Square, Property Investors Network and University of Antelope Valley. All the four acquisitions closed after the IPO in 2022. and therefore all four are currently part of our consolidated audited results for the period after acquisition to the year end. We have provided pro forma accounts in this filing that include both the Pre-IPO Group and the five Acquisitions for 2022 for the full year.

 

In 2020, during the pandemic, the Pre-IPO Group saw an 11% growth in its digital education revenue, 2% growth in its total education revenue. During the year Entrepreneur Resorts had a 55% revenue decline as it closed its locations in Singapore, South Africa and Bali, Indonesia, resulting in $7.6 million in revenue, $3.5 million in gross profit, ($3.1) million in net loss and $(0.1) million in Adjusted EBITDA for the Pre-IPO Group in 2020.

 

Our revenue decreased from $9.9 million in 2019 to $7.6 million in 2020, a reduction of 23%. This was largely due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Entrepreneur Resorts, as discussed elsewhere in this Prospectus.

 

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At the end of 2021, we continued to grow the Group without completing any new acquisitions. Based on audited financials, combined revenues in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 were $8.3 million, with $2.8 million in gross profit, ($4.2) million in operating loss, ($4.6) million in net loss and $0.3 million in Adjusted EBITDA.

 

The pro forma revenue including the four acquisition and excluding ERL was $21.0 million. The pro forma revenue was the combination of $5.2 million in revenue from the Pre-IPO Group, and $15.8 million in pro forma revenue from the Acquisitions. This further breaks down to the following revenue from each Acquisition: University of Antelope Valley, $9.0 million revenue (43% of total), with a further $1.1 million of other income from government grants not included in this total; Property Investors Network, $5.1 million revenue (24% of total); Education Angels, $0.9 million revenue (5% of total); and E-Square, $0.7 million (3% of total).

 

The two main revenue segments of the Pre-IPO Group are made up of education revenue and campus revenue.

 

Our education revenue is the combined revenue of Genius Group Ltd, GeniusU Ltd and Entrepreneurs Institute. This decreased from $5.6 million in 2020 to $5.2 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

 

Our campus revenue is the revenue of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd. This increased from $2.0 million in 2020 to $3.1 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 as our campus venues began to reopen in line with easing of pandemic restrictions.

 

At the end of 2022, we continued to grow the Group and acquired US based film production company Revealed Films in October 2022. Also, we closed the remaining four Acquisitions that were contingent to our IPO. Based on pro forma financials and including the five acquisitions and excluding Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd, combined revenues in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 were $23.5 million, with $12.9 million in gross profit, ($32.2) million in operating loss from the continued business operations and ($6.9) million in Adjusted EBITDA.

 

The $23.5 million in pro forma revenue was the combination of $4.8 million in revenue from the Pre-IPO Group excluding Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd, and $18.6 million in revenue from the Acquisitions.

 

The two main revenue segments of the Group are made up of education revenue and campus revenue.

 

Our education revenue on the audited financials grew from $5.2 million in 2021 to $13.6 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

 

Our campus revenue is the revenue of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd. This increased from $3.1 million in 2021 to $4.6 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 as our campus venues began to reopen in line with easing of pandemic restrictions. The campus revenue is excluded from the pro forma financials.

 

When combined with the revenue of the Acquisitions, of which 100% is education revenue, our pro forma education revenue for the Group was $23.5 million in 2022.

 

At the end of six months ended June 30, 2023, based on pro forma financials and including the five acquisitions and excluding Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd, combined revenues in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 were $8.9 million, with $4.3 million in gross profit, ($9.4) million in operating loss from the continued business operations and ($7.6) million in Adjusted EBITDA.

 

The $8.9 million in pro forma revenue was the combination of $1.3 million in revenue from the Pre-IPO Group excluding Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd, and $7.6 million in revenue from the Acquisitions.

 

The two main revenue segments of the Group are made up of education revenue and campus revenue.

 

Our education revenue on the audited financials grew from $3.4 million in first half of 2022 to $8.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023.

 

Our campus revenue is the revenue of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd. This increased from $1.9 million in first half of 2022 to $2.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023 as our campus venues began to reopen in line with easing of pandemic restrictions. The campus revenue is excluded from the pro forma financials.

 

When combined with the revenue of the Acquisitions, of which 100% is education revenue, our pro forma education revenue for the Group was $8.9 million in first half of 2023.

 

We use Adjusted EBITDA, a non-IFRS measure, in various places in this Prospectus, as described in the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures — Adjusted EBITDA” section above.

 

B. Business Overview

 

Our Mission

 

Our mission is to develop an entrepreneur education system that prepares students for the 21st century. We believe that the current global education system is in need of a more relevant, upgraded, student-centered curriculum that is both high-tech and high-touch. We believe that such a curriculum can be a force for good. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

 

Today, we believe that it is the entrepreneurs of the world who have the greatest power to trigger change. We see Genius Group as the global community where the entrepreneur movement meets.

 

For students who may struggle with the current test-focused, classroom-based, one-size-fits-all system most common in current schooling, our mission is to provide the option of a personalized, passion-focused, purpose-based, flexible system that enables them to design a life that enables them to ignite their own genius, and where earning and learning become a lifelong activity.

 

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For parents who we believe feel trapped in a system where they are limited in flexibility of location, teachers, subjects and standards, our mission is to provide a truly global system that can be accessed online, anytime, with their choice of location, teachers, mentors, subjects and pathways that best suit their children, their family and their personal circumstances, while connecting to the recognized accreditations for their children to succeed.

 

For teachers who we believe feel underappreciated and underpaid, our mission is to provide a global platform that recognizes and rewards thought leaders for the best content, courses, microschools and microdegrees, enabling the best coursework to grow globally.

 

For schools and colleges that are under-resourced and struggle to keep up with the increasing demands of changing global economics and an uncertain future of work, our mission is to provide a cutting-edge curriculum to enable them to prepare their students effectively to get jobs and create jobs as well as learn key life skills in partnership with our global community.