This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated May 10, 2023 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated May 1, 2023.
HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:HIVE) is pleased to announce its updated growth target to 6 Exahash per second ("EH/s") (all amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated).
HIVE's near-term target is 4 Exahash for calendar Q2 2023 through the secured orders of 1.26 Exahash of new generation Bitcoin mining ASICs, to grow our target hashrate by 33%. HIVE's management team has been carefully evaluating ASIC purchase opportunities, deploying capital for orders that would allow for optimum cash flow return on invested capital, while also introducing more efficient machines to our global fleet.
Immediate Growth Overview:
- Over 1.26 Exahash of new generation Bitcoin ASIC miners at very attractive $/TH prices:
- Purchased 3,600 Bitmain S19j Pro+ miners for a total of 439 PH/s
- Purchased 1,169 Bitmain S19j Pro miners for a total of 117 PH/s
- Purchased 1,100 Bitmain S19 XP miners for a total of 154 PH/s
- Launched production of 5,000 BuzzMiner Plus units, for a total of 550-650 PH/s
Strategic Insight:
HIVE has successfully utilized and continues to optimize its hybrid strategy for expansion, to opportunistically sell Bitcoin when it is accretive to do so, or issue shares to grow our Bitcoin HODL position. HIVE's approach to maximize cashflow return on invested capital has allowed us to minimize shareholder dilution, while also keeping a strong Bitcoin HODL balance.
The Company notes that other publicly traded Bitcoin miners may only issue shares to fund their business and expansions, in order to HODL all their Bitcoin. Whereas other miners may sell all their Bitcoin HODL to fund their business or expansions.
Appointment of Luke Rossy to Vice President of Operations
HIVE is pleased to announce the appointment of Luke Rossy to the position of Vice President of Operations. Luke has been with HIVE for the last two years, as our Senior Developer & Operations Manager, where he has been a tremendous resource, and eager to learn.
Luke has demonstrated an aptitude for problem solving in the technical realm, alongside his expert level analysis skills. By expanding his horizons and taking on more executive level tasks, we are excited to see Luke grow with the Company.
Aydin Kilic, CEO of HIVE Blockchain stated, "I have worked very closely with Luke for the last 2 years, he has been an exceptional team member, with incredible focus and a tireless work ethic. I believe he will make a great executive and as we have a lean management team at HIVE, his diverse skillset helps us navigate day to day hurdles as we strive for excellence."
ATM Financing to Fast Track Growth Strategy and Build HODL Position
The Company is also pleased to announce that it has entered into an equity distribution (the "Equity Distribution Agreement") with Stifel GMP ("Stifel") and Canaccord Genuity Corp. ("Canaccord" and together with Stifel, the "Agents") to establish an at-the-market offering of common shares ("Common Shares") in the capital of the Company on the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV").
Frank Holmes, Executive Chairman of HIVE commented, "I am thrilled this is the first time two large independent brokers in Canada are in partnership with us on an ATM financing. This financing will allow us to grow our Bitcoin HODL and Exahash mining capacity."
The Company estimates that with each additional 30MW of infrastructure, utilizing ASICs with an efficiency of 30 J/TH, it will be able to add 1 Exahash of Bitcoin mining capacity, at an approximate cost of $30,000,000. Therefore, with the right opportunities, proceeds from the ATM financing could potentially allow the Company to add an additional 3 Exahash to its operating footprint, including infrastructure and ASICs. This would represent approximately a 100% growth to the Company's current ASIC operating capacity of 3.15 Exahash, to achieve its growth target of 6 Exahash.
By introducing machines with better joules per Terahash ("J/TH") efficiency, while also procuring these machines at attractive $/TH price, we strive to optimize near-term repayment of our investments from cashflow operating these machines. Furthermore, we analyze possible scenarios where mining revenues may drop in the time periods surrounding the halving event, and thus we strive to ensure that the machines we purchase will have positive gross mining margins for as long as possible after the initial investment has been paid off. Therefore, an optimal balance between J/TH efficiency realized and $/TH price paid must be sought. Our goal is that these investments become free cash flow generating assets, to get the best cash flow return on invested capital as publicly traded Bitcoin miner.
Pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company may, from time to time, sell up to $100 million of Common Shares (the "ATM Equity Program"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the ATM Equity Program, if any, principally for general corporate and working capital requirements, funding ongoing operations, to repay indebtedness outstanding from time to time, to complete future acquisitions, or for other corporate purposes.
The Common Shares will be distributed at trading prices prevailing at the time of the sale, prices may vary between purchasers and during the period of distribution. The volume and timing of sales, if any, will be determined at the sole discretion of the Company's management and in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement. To date, no Common Shares have been distributed by the Company pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement. Sales of Common Shares, if any, under the ATM Equity Program are anticipated to be made in transactions that are deemed to be "at-the-market distributions" as defined in National Instrument 44-102 - Shelf Distributions, as sales made directly on the TSXV or any other recognized Canadian "marketplace" within the meaning of National Instrument 21-101 - Marketplace Operation. The ATM Equity Program is being made pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated May 10, 2023 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated May 1, 2023 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"), filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada.
The Prospectus Supplement (as well as the related Base Shelf Prospectus) is available at the Company's profile on the SEDAR website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedar.com.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction where the offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful. The Common Shares referred to in this news release may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration.