Iris Energy Limited (NASDAQ: IREN) (together with its subsidiaries,
“Iris Energy”, “the Company” or “the Group”), a leading owner and
operator of institutional-grade, highly efficient Bitcoin mining
data centers powered by 100% renewable energy, today announced its
expansion plan to 9.1 EH/s and revitalization of its
high-performance computing (“HPC”) data center strategy, and
provided a limited recourse equipment financing update.
Key Highlights
- Childress Phase
1 (first 100MW): construction of remaining 80MW underway, targeting
expansion of data center capacity from 5.6 EH/s to ~9.1 EH/s1 by
early 20242
- Childress Phase
2 (second 100MW): long-lead items ordered to unlock ~13.6
EH/s1
- Near-term focus
on data center construction, retaining flexibility on timing for
miner purchases
- Prior HPC3 data
center strategy revitalized with early traction for potential use
of current sites, as well as additional global sites under
development
Iris Energy is pleased to announce the
construction of the remaining 80MW of data centers for Phase 1
(first 100MW) at its 600MW Childress site is underway. The
additional 4 x 20MW data centers are expected to increase the
Company’s potential operating capacity by ~63% (from 5.6 EH/s to
9.1 EH/s1) and is targeted for completion by early 20242.
Additional long-lead items also continue to be
procured, including for Childress Phase 2 (second 100MW) which is
expected to unlock ~13.6 EH/s1 of data center capacity.
Near-term focus remains on data center
construction, whilst retaining flexibility on timing for miner
purchases, which is subject to funding and market conditions. The
Company remains well capitalized with ~$64m of cash4, no debt,
operating cashflows from its existing 5.6 EH/s, as well as
additional optionality from its committed equity facility.
The Company also advises that its previous HPC
data center strategy is now a parallel focus. Significant time was
invested in exploring the strategy ~3-4 years ago, including
signing a strategic memorandum of understanding with Dell
Technologies in March 2020 to test and develop potential data
center solutions for energy intensive compute applications,
including leveraging Dell Technologies’ HPC and artificial
intelligence expertise. Developments continue to accelerate in the
sector, including the growth of computing power and clean energy
requirements. Recent discussions with market participants have
further validated this previous work and that the time may be right
to expand into this sector, utilizing Iris Energy’s four existing
operating sites and/or its geographically diversified portfolio of
additional global sites currently under development. The Company’s
approach to 100% renewable energy has been a key focus for many
prospective HPC counterparties.
Limited recourse equipment financing
update
As previously disclosed by the Company, the
lender to two wholly owned special purpose vehicle borrowers in
relation to limited recourse equipment financing facilities (the
“Non-Recourse SPVs”) is pursuing remedies available to it with
respect to such facilities, and has previously appointed
PricewaterhouseCoopers as receiver (“PwC”) with respect to the two
Non-Recourse SPVs. A hearing was held last week in The Supreme
Court of British Columbia where the lender sought, among other
things, declarations to the effect that any difference between
revenue generated by the Non-Recourse SPVs through provision of
hashpower services to the Company and Bitcoin mined by the Company
is collateral securing such facilities, as well as substantive
consolidation of Group entities, which were vigorously defended by
the Company and the Non-Recourse SPVs. A decision by the Court is
pending. The receiver, PwC, advised the Court that it is not taking
a position on the lender’s application. The Company believes these
claims are without merit.
About Iris Energy
Iris Energy is a sustainable Bitcoin mining
company that supports the decarbonization of energy markets and the
global Bitcoin network.
- 100% renewables:
Iris Energy targets markets with low-cost, under-utilized renewable
energy, and where the Company can support local communities
- Long-term security
over infrastructure, land and power supply: Iris Energy builds,
owns and operates its electrical infrastructure and proprietary
data centers, providing long-term security and operational control
over its assets
- Seasoned management
team: Iris Energy’s team has an impressive track record of success
across energy, infrastructure, renewables, finance, digital assets
and data centers with cumulative experience in delivering >$25bn
in energy and infrastructure projects globally
Forward-Looking Statements
This market update includes “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to
future events or Iris Energy’s future financial or operating
performance. For example, forward-looking statements include but
are not limited to the Company’s business strategy, expected
operational and financial results, and expected increase in power
capacity and hashrate. In some cases, you can identify
forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “may,” “can,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “plan,”
“possible,” “project,” “strive,” “budget,” “forecast,” “expect,”
“intend,” “target”, “will,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,”
“continue,” “scheduled” or the negatives of these terms or
variations of them or similar terminology, but the absence of these
words does not mean that statement is not forward-looking. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and
other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
In addition, any statements or information that refer to
expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, performance
or other characterizations of future events or circumstances,
including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking.
These forward-looking statements are based on
management’s current expectations and beliefs. These statements are
neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause
Iris Energy’s actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements, including, but not limited to: Iris Energy’s limited
operating history with operating losses; electricity outage,
limitation of electricity supply or increase in electricity costs,
as well as limitations on the availability of electrical supply for
Bitcoin mining due to restrictions imposed by governmental
authorities or otherwise; long term outage or limitation of the
internet connection at Iris Energy’s sites; any critical failure of
key electrical or data center equipment; serial defects or
underperformance with respect to Iris Energy’s equipment; failure
of suppliers to perform under the relevant supply contracts for
equipment that has already been procured which may delay Iris
Energy’s expansion plans; supply chain and logistics issues for
Iris Energy or Iris Energy’s suppliers; cancellation or withdrawal
of required operating and other permits and licenses; customary
risks in developing greenfield infrastructure projects; Iris
Energy’s evolving business model and strategy; Iris Energy’s
ability to successfully manage its growth; Iris Energy’s ability to
raise additional financing (whether because of the conditions of
the markets, Iris Energy’s financial condition or otherwise) on a
timely basis, or at all, which could adversely impact the Company’s
ability to meet its capital commitments (including payments due
under any hardware purchase contracts or debt financing
obligations) and the Company’s growth plans; the failure of Iris
Energy’s wholly-owned special purpose vehicles to make required
payments of principal and/or interest under their limited recourse
equipment financing arrangements when due or otherwise comply with
the terms thereof, as a result of which the lender thereunder has
declared the entire principal amount of each loan to be immediately
due and payable, and is taking steps to enforce the indebtedness
and its rights in the Bitcoin miners with respect to certain of
such loans and other assets securing such loans, including
appointing a receiver with respect to such special purpose
vehicles, which is expected to result in the loss of the relevant
Bitcoin miners securing such loans and has materially reduced the
Company’s operating capacity, and could also lead to bankruptcy or
liquidation of the relevant special purpose vehicles, and
materially and adversely impact the Company’s business, operating
expansion plans, financial condition, cash flows and results of
operations; the terms of any additional financing or any
refinancing, restructuring or modification to the terms of any
existing financing, which could be less favorable or require Iris
Energy to comply with more onerous covenants or restrictions, any
of which could restrict its business operations and adversely
impact its financial condition, cash flows and results of
operations; competition; Bitcoin prices, global hashrate and the
market value of Bitcoin miners, any of which could adversely impact
its financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, as
well as its ability to raise additional financing and the ability
of its wholly owned special purpose vehicles to make required
payments of principal and/or interest on their equipment financing
facilities; risks related to health pandemics including those of
COVID-19; changes in regulation of digital assets; and other
important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in
Iris Energy’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on
September 13, 2022, and the Company’s report on Form 6 K filed with
the SEC on February 15, 2023, as such factors may be updated from
time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of
Iris Energy’s website at https://investors.irisenergy.co.
These and other important factors could cause
actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the
forward-looking statements made in this investor update. Any
forward-looking statement that Iris Energy makes in this investor
update speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as
required by law, Iris Energy disclaims any obligation to update or
revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of
the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts
Investors |
Media |
Lincoln Tan |
Jon Snowball |
Iris Energy |
Domestique |
+61 407 423 395 |
+61 477 946 068 |
lincoln.tan@irisenergy.co |
|
To keep updated on Iris Energy’s news releases
and SEC filings, please subscribe to email alerts at
https://investors.irisenergy.co/ir-resources/email-alerts.
___________________________________________
1 Assumes purchase of Bitmain S19 XP miners. Additional miners
have not yet been purchased and the Company will continue to
monitor the market for purchase opportunities. Hashrate figures may
change depending on miner procurement selection.2 Indicative timing
for completion of data centers. All timing references are to
calendar years, unless otherwise specified.3 Refers to the practice
of aggregating computing resources to perform computationally
intensive operations. Potential applications include AI / machine
learning, health care, engineering, aerospace, media &
entertainment and finance. 4 Reflects USD equivalent, unaudited
preliminary cash, cash equivalents and term deposits as of May 31,
2023.5 Per investor update presentation dated May 10, 2023.
A graphic accompanying this announcement is available
at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a59af01-a698-4a0a-baec-de7e29cf5ce0
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