Genius Group approves share buyback for 20% of issued shares
Genius Group (GNS) has received overwhelming shareholder approval (97.5%) for a share buyback program of up to 20% of its issued shares, the maximum allowed under Singapore law. The Board has authorized management to proceed with the buyback at their discretion, subject to Singapore, federal securities law, and NYSE requirements.
The company is currently operating under a Preliminary Injunction from the US District Court Southern District of New York, effective since March 13, 2025, which prevents them from issuing shares. As a result, the company has shifted its employee share compensation plan to cash payments, allowing affected employees to voluntarily reinvest in company shares through open market purchases.
Genius Group (GNS) ha ricevuto un'approvazione schiacciante da parte degli azionisti (97,5%) per un programma di riacquisto di azioni fino al 20% delle sue azioni emesse, il massimo consentito dalla legge di Singapore. Il Consiglio ha autorizzato la direzione a procedere con il riacquisto a propria discrezione, nel rispetto delle leggi di Singapore, delle normative federali sui titoli e dei requisiti della NYSE.
L'azienda sta attualmente operando sotto un'ingiunzione preliminare del Tribunale Distrettuale degli Stati Uniti per il Distretto Meridionale di New York, in vigore dal 13 marzo 2025, che impedisce loro di emettere azioni. Di conseguenza, l'azienda ha spostato il proprio piano di compensazione azionaria per i dipendenti a pagamenti in contante, consentendo ai dipendenti interessati di reinvestire volontariamente in azioni della società attraverso acquisti nel mercato aperto.
Genius Group (GNS) ha recibido una abrumadora aprobación de los accionistas (97.5%) para un programa de recompra de acciones de hasta el 20% de sus acciones emitidas, el máximo permitido por la ley de Singapur. La Junta ha autorizado a la dirección a proceder con la recompra a su discreción, sujeto a las leyes de Singapur, las regulaciones federales de valores y los requisitos de la NYSE.
La empresa está operando actualmente bajo una orden de restricción preliminar del Tribunal de Distrito de EE. UU. para el Distrito Sur de Nueva York, vigente desde el 13 de marzo de 2025, que les impide emitir acciones. Como resultado, la empresa ha cambiado su plan de compensación en acciones para empleados a pagos en efectivo, permitiendo a los empleados afectados reinvertir voluntariamente en acciones de la empresa a través de compras en el mercado abierto.
지니어스 그룹 (GNS)는 주주 승인(97.5%)을 받아 최대 발행 주식의 20%에 해당하는 자사주 매입 프로그램을 승인받았습니다. 이는 싱가포르 법에서 허용하는 최대치입니다. 이사회는 경영진이 싱가포르 법, 연방 증권법 및 NYSE 요구 사항에 따라 재량으로 매입을 진행할 수 있도록 승인했습니다.
현재 회사는 2025년 3월 13일부터 발효된 미국 뉴욕 남부 지방법원의 임시 금지 명령에 따라 주식 발행이 금지되어 운영되고 있습니다. 그 결과, 회사는 직원 주식 보상 계획을 현금 지급으로 전환하여 영향을 받은 직원들이 자발적으로 공개 시장에서 회사 주식을 재투자할 수 있도록 하고 있습니다.
Genius Group (GNS) a obtenu une approbation écrasante des actionnaires (97,5%) pour un programme de rachat d'actions pouvant aller jusqu'à 20% de ses actions émises, le maximum autorisé par la loi de Singapour. Le Conseil a autorisé la direction à procéder au rachat à sa discrétion, sous réserve des lois de Singapour, des lois fédérales sur les valeurs mobilières et des exigences de la NYSE.
L'entreprise fonctionne actuellement sous une injonction préliminaire du Tribunal de district des États-Unis pour le district sud de New York, en vigueur depuis le 13 mars 2025, qui l'empêche d'émettre des actions. En conséquence, l'entreprise a déplacé son plan de compensation en actions pour les employés vers des paiements en espèces, permettant aux employés concernés de réinvestir volontairement dans des actions de l'entreprise par le biais d'achats sur le marché ouvert.
Genius Group (GNS) hat eine überwältigende Zustimmung der Aktionäre (97,5%) für ein Aktienrückkaufprogramm von bis zu 20% der ausgegebenen Aktien erhalten, das Maximum, das nach dem Recht von Singapur erlaubt ist. Der Vorstand hat das Management autorisiert, nach eigenem Ermessen mit dem Rückkauf fortzufahren, vorbehaltlich der Gesetze von Singapur, der Bundeswertpapiergesetze und der Anforderungen der NYSE.
Das Unternehmen operiert derzeit unter einer vorläufigen einstweiligen Verfügung des US-Bezirksgerichts für den südlichen Bezirk von New York, die seit dem 13. März 2025 in Kraft ist und ihnen die Ausgabe von Aktien untersagt. Infolgedessen hat das Unternehmen seinen Aktienvergütungsplan für Mitarbeiter auf Barzahlungen umgestellt, sodass betroffene Mitarbeiter freiwillig in Unternehmensaktien durch Käufe auf dem offenen Markt reinvestieren können.
- Overwhelming shareholder support (97.5%) for share buyback program
- Potential reduction in share float by up to 20%
- Solution implemented for employee compensation compliance
- Court injunction restricting ability to raise financing
- Legal constraints on company operations and growth
- Forced shift from equity to cash-based employee compensation
Insights
The announced 20% share buyback represents a significant financial commitment for a micro-cap company with just
At current valuation, this buyback would represent approximately
The court-imposed Preliminary Injunction that prevents share issuances has forced significant operational adjustments, notably the shift from equity-based to cash-based employee compensation. This creates an immediate cash flow burden that could offset potential benefits from the share repurchase program.
Most concerning is that this appears to be a reactive rather than strategic move, highlighted by the CEO's combative language regarding "excessive restrictions" and allegations of "fraud being perpetrated on both the court and the company." For a company describing itself as "Bitcoin-first education," these legal complications suggest regulatory scrutiny that warrants caution.
The buyback authorization with discretionary timing gives management flexibility but provides no clear execution timeline, making the actual impact difficult to quantify. This announcement, while superficially positive, raises more questions than it answers about Genius Group's fundamental business condition.
The Preliminary Injunction from the Southern District of New York creates a complex legal predicament for Genius Group that significantly impacts its corporate flexibility. The court order specifically restricts the company's ability to issue new shares while apparently permitting share repurchases, creating an asymmetric operating environment.
This unusual constraint has forced the company into a potentially problematic compliance situation regarding Singapore employment laws, which typically require adherence to established compensation agreements. The Board's decision to substitute cash for share-based compensation represents a reasonable mitigation strategy but introduces additional financial obligations.
The permission for employees to "voluntarily reinvest" their cash compensation into open market purchases requires careful scrutiny under securities regulations. This arrangement, while technically allowing employees to obtain equity, creates potential regulatory concerns around directed purchasing activities.
Most troubling is the CEO's public statement alleging "fraud being perpetrated on both the court and company." Such rhetoric directed toward federal court proceedings is extraordinarily risky and potentially constitutes challenging contempt territory. The aggressive language suggesting the court has been misled indicates a contentious legal battle that likely extends beyond what's disclosed in this announcement.
The authorization of the maximum buyback percentage permitted under Singapore law (20%) while simultaneously struggling with regulatory constraints in the US highlights the multinational compliance challenges facing this small-cap entity operating across different jurisdictions.
SINGAPORE, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS) (“Genius Group” or the “Company”), a leading AI-powered, Bitcoin-first education group, today announced that shareholders voted
Based on receiving shareholder approval at its April 7, 2025, the Company’s Board has instructed management to proceed with the share buyback, with the timing of the buyback at the management’s discretion. The buyback is for up to
Furthermore, the Company has previously reported it has been unable to issue shares related to its long-standing employee share compensation plan, in compliance with Singapore employment laws as a result of the Preliminary Injunction (PI) issued by the United States District Court Southern District of New York (SDNY), which has been in effect since March 13, 2025.
To regain legal compliance in Singapore, the Company’s Board has approved for all compensation that should have been paid through share issuances to be paid in cash instead, and it has granted permission for the effected employees to voluntarily reinvest their respective cash payouts into shares of the Company by purchasing shares directly on the open market as individual investors, subject to applicable securities laws.
Roger Hamilton, CEO of Genius Group, said “Whilst a US court has blocked us from selling our shares, there is no block on buying our shares. The vote by our shareholders overwhelmingly in favor of a share buyback indicates their support of our efforts to protect Genius Group and our shareholders in the face of the excessive restrictions imposed by the court on our operations.”
“We have continued and will continue to bring to the court’s attention through all avenues open to us the fraud being perpetrated on both the court and the company that has led to the current block on our ability to raise financing, pay employees, fund our growth or buy Bitcoin.”
About Genius Group
Genius Group (NYSE: GNS) is a Bitcoin-first business delivering AI powered, education and acceleration solutions for the future of work. Genius Group serves 5.4 million users in over 100 countries through its Genius City model and online digital marketplace of AI training, AI tools and AI talent. It provides personalized, entrepreneurial AI pathways combining human talent with AI skills and AI solutions at the individual, enterprise and government level. To learn more, please visit www.geniusgroup.net.
For more information, please visit https://www.geniusgroup.ai/
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will”, “plan,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 20-F, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Reports of a Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise. No information in this press release should be construed as any indication whatsoever of the Company’s future revenues, results of operations, or stock price.
Contact
For enquiries, contact investor@geniusgroup.ai
FAQ
What percentage of shares will Genius Group (GNS) buy back in 2025?
When did shareholders approve the GNS share buyback program?
How is GNS handling employee compensation due to the court injunction?
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