UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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OR
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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OR
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SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period from
to
Commission file number: 001-41072
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
+61 2 7906 8301
(Address of principal executive offices)
Tel: +61 2 7906 8301
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Copies to:
Byron B. Rooney
Marcel R. Fausten
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 450-4000
Fax: (212) 450-6858
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class
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Trading Symbol
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
The number of outstanding shares as of June 30, 2023 was 66,701,526
Ordinary shares and two B Class shares.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☐ No ☒
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ☐ No ☒
Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T
(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition
of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large Accelerated Filer ☐
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Accelerated Filer ☐
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Emerging growth company
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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 13(a) of the Exchange 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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over
financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report: ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing
reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the
registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
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☐
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U.S. GAAP
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☒
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☐
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Other
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If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
☐ Item 17 ☐
Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
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F-1
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PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
All references to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars,” “$,” “USD” or “US$” are to the U.S. dollar. All references to “Australian dollars,” “AUD” or “A$” are to the Australian dollar, the official currency of Australia. All
references to “Canadian dollars,” “CAD” or “C$” are to the Canadian dollar, the official currency of Canada. All references to “IFRS” are to International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or
the IASB.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this annual report to the terms “Iris Energy,” “the Company,” “the Group,” “our,” “us,” and “we” refer to Iris Energy Limited and its
subsidiaries.
Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements cover Iris Energy Limited as a Group consisting of Iris Energy Limited and the entities it controlled at the end of, or during, the year ended June 30, 2023. The consolidated
financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, which is Iris Energy Limited’s presentation currency. We prepared our annual consolidated financial statements for fiscal years ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021 in accordance with IFRS, as issued
by the IASB. Unless otherwise noted, our financial information presented herein for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is stated in dollars, our presentation currency. All references herein to “our financial statements,” “our audited
consolidated financial information,” and/or “our audited consolidated financial statements” are to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Iris Energy Limited was previously known as Iris Energy Pty Ltd until October 7, 2021, when it converted to an Australian public unlisted company limited by shares. Iris Energy Limited is incorporated and domiciled in
Australia. The Company’s Ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq under the trading ticker “IREN.” Iris Energy Limited's registered office and principal place of business are:
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Registered office
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Principal place of business
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c/o Pitcher Partners
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Level 12, 44 Market Street
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Level 13, 664 Collins Street
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Sydney NSW 2000
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Docklands VIC 3008
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Australia
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Australia
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Our fiscal year ends on June 30. References in this annual report to a fiscal year, such as “fiscal year 2023,” “fiscal year 2022” and “fiscal year 2021,” relate to our fiscal year ended on June 30 of that calendar year.
Corporate Events
On November 16, 2021, the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No 333-260488) relating to our initial public offering (“IPO”) of our Ordinary shares was declared effective by the Securities Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). On November 19, 2021, we closed our IPO, pursuant to which we issued and sold 8,269,231 Ordinary shares. See “Item 4. Information on the Company⸺A. History and Development of the Company⸺Our History” for additional information.
As of June 30, 2023, we had a total of 66,701,526 Ordinary shares issued and outstanding and 2 B Class shares issued and outstanding. The B Class shares are beneficially owned by our co-founders and Co-Chief Executive
Officers, Daniel Roberts and William Roberts. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions⸺A. Major Shareholders.”
Special Note Regarding Non-IFRS Measures
This annual report refers to certain measures that are not recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Iris Energy uses non-IFRS measures including “EBITDA” and “Adjusted EBITDA”
(each as defined below) as additional information to complement IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the Company’s operations from management’s perspective. As a capital intensive business, EBITDA excludes the impact of the cost of
depreciation of mining equipment and other fixed assets, which allows us to measure the liquidity of our business on a current basis and, we believe, provides a useful tool for comparison to our competitors in a similar industry. Similarly, Adjusted
EBITDA excludes the impact of share-based payments expense, which can vary significantly in comparison to other companies, so we believe this is a useful metric for comparing the profits/(losses) of the business to our competitors.
EBITDA is calculated as our IFRS profit/(loss) after income tax expense, excluding interest income, finance expense and non-cash fair value loss and interest expense on hybrid financial instruments, income tax expense,
depreciation and amortization, which are important components of our IFRS profit/(loss) after income tax expense. Further, “Adjusted EBITDA” also excludes share-based payments expense, which is an important component of our IFRS profit/(loss) after
income tax expense, impairment of assets, loss on other receivables, loss on disposal of assets, foreign exchange gains and losses and other one-time expenses and income. Beginning in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the Company has changed its
definition of Adjusted EBITDA to exclude impairment of assets, loss allowance on other receivables, and loss on disposal of assets. This is a change from the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA in prior periods, and these adjustments did not have any
impact on the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA in prior periods.
“EBITDA” and “Adjusted EBITDA” have limitations as analytical tools. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to profit/(loss) after income tax expense, as applicable, determined in accordance with IFRS.
They are supplemental measures of our operating performance only, and as a result you should not consider these measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, our profit/(loss) after income tax as determined in accordance with IFRS,
which is the most comparable IFRS financial measure. For example, we expect depreciation of our fixed assets will be a large recurring expense over the course of the useful life of our assets, and that share-based compensation is an important part of
compensating certain employees, officers and directors. Our non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, limiting their
usefulness as a comparative tool.
A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to loss after income tax expense, the most directly comparable IFRS measure, can be found in “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects⸺A. Operating Results⸺Key
Indicators of Performance and Financial Condition.”
Market Share and Other Information
This annual report includes market, economic and industry data as well as certain statistics and information relating to our business, markets, and other industry data, which we obtained or extrapolated from various
third-party industry and research sources, as well as assumptions that we have made that are based on those data and other similar sources. Industry publications and other third-party surveys and forecasts generally state that the information
contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. While we believe that such data is reliable, we have not independently verified such data and
cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness thereof. Additionally, we cannot assure you that any of the assumptions underlying these statements are accurate or correctly reflect our position in the industry, and not all of our internal estimates
have been verified by any independent sources. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that a third-party using different methods to assemble, analyze, or compute market data would obtain the same results. There is no precise definition for what
constitutes the Bitcoin mining market, the HPC solutions market or any other market or industry referenced in this annual report. We do not intend, and do not assume any obligations, to update industry or market data set forth in this annual report.
Finally, behavior, preferences, and trends in the marketplace tend to change. As a result, investors and prospective investors should be aware that data in this annual report and estimates based on such data may not be reliable indicators of future
results.
References to “market share” and “market leader” are based on global revenues in the referenced market, and, unless otherwise specified herein, are based on certain of the materials referenced above.
Rounding
Amounts in this report have been rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars, or in certain cases, the nearest dollar.
Presentation Currency and Exchange Rates
The Directors elected to change the Group’s presentation currency for the consolidated financial statements from Australian dollars to U.S. dollars effective as of July 1, 2021. The change in presentation currency is a
voluntary change which is presented retrospectively. The functional currency of Iris Energy Limited and certain of its subsidiaries is Australian dollars, and for certain other subsidiaries the functional currency is one other than Australian
dollars. Functional currency amounts are translated in the presentation currency in the manner described in Note 2 to our audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023, included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of
our business plan and strategies and trends we expect to affect our business. These statements often include words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “suggests,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “should,” “could,”
“would,” “may,” “will,” “forecast,” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are contained throughout this annual report, including matters discussed under “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” and in other sections of this annual report. We base these forward-looking statements or projections on our current expectations,
plans and assumptions that we have made in light of our experience in the industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances
and at such time. As you read and consider this annual report, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of future performance or results. The forward-looking statements and projections are subject to and involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or projections. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements and projections are based on reasonable assumptions at the time they
are made, you should be aware that many factors could affect our actual financial results or results of operations, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and projections. Factors
that may materially affect such forward-looking statements and projections include, but are not limited to:
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Bitcoin price and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
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our ability to obtain additional capital on commercially reasonable terms and in a timely manner to meet our capital needs and facilitate our expansion plans;
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the terms of any future financing or any refinancing, restructuring or modification to the terms of any future financing, which could require us to comply with onerous covenants or restrictions, and our ability to service our debt
obligations, any of which could restrict our business operations and adversely impact our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations;
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our ability to successfully execute on our growth strategies and operating plans, including our ability to continue to develop our existing data center sites and to increase our diversification into the market for HPC solutions we may
offer;
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our limited experience with respect to new markets we have entered or may seek to enter, including the market for HPC solutions;
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expectations with respect to the ongoing profitability, viability, operability, security, popularity and public perceptions of the Bitcoin network;
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expectations with respect to the profitability, viability, operability, security, popularity and public perceptions of HPC solutions we may offer;
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our ability to secure customers on commercially reasonable terms or at all, particularly as it relates to our potential expansion into HPC solutions;
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our ability to manage counterparty risk (including credit risk) associated with potential customers and other counterparties;
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our ability to secure renewable energy, renewable energy certificates, power capacity, facilities and sites on commercially reasonable terms or at all;
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the risk that counterparties may terminate, default on or underperform their contractual obligations;
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Bitcoin global hashrate fluctuations;
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delays associated with, or failure to obtain or complete, permitting approvals, grid connections and other development activities customary for greenfield or brownfield infrastructure projects;
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our reliance on power and utilities providers, third party mining pools, exchanges, banks, insurance providers and our ability to maintain relationships with such parties;
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expectations regarding availability and pricing of electricity;
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our participation and ability to successfully participate in demand response products and services and other load management programs run, operated or offered by electricity network operators, regulators or electricity market operators;
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the availability, reliability and/or cost of electricity supply, hardware and electrical and data center infrastructure, including with respect to any electricity outages and any laws and regulations that may restrict the electricity
supply available to us;
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any variance between the actual operating performance of our hardware achieved compared to the nameplate performance including hashrate;
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our ability to curtail our electricity consumption and/or monetize electricity depending on market conditions, including changes in Bitcoin mining economics and prevailing electricity prices;
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actions undertaken by electricity network and market operators, regulators, governments or communities in the regions in which we operate;
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the availability, suitability, reliability and cost of internet connections at our facilities;
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our ability to secure additional hardware, including hardware for Bitcoin mining and HPC solutions we may offer, on commercially reasonable terms or at all, and any delays or reductions in the supply of such hardware or increases in the
cost of procuring such hardware;
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expectations with respect to the useful life and obsolescence of hardware (including hardware for Bitcoin mining as well as hardware for other applications, including HPC solutions we may offer);
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delays, increases in costs or reductions in the supply of equipment used in our operations;
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our ability to operate in an evolving regulatory environment;
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our ability to successfully operate and maintain our property and infrastructure;
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reliability and performance of our infrastructure compared to expectations;
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malicious attacks on our property, infrastructure or IT systems;
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our ability to maintain in good standing the operating and other permits and licenses required for our operations and business;
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our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights and confidential information;
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any intellectual property infringement and product liability claims;
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whether the secular trends we expect to drive growth in our business materialize to the degree we expect them to, or at all;
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the occurrence of any environmental, health and safety incidents at our sites, and any material costs relating to environmental, health and safety requirements or liabilities;
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damage to our property and infrastructure and the risk that any insurance we maintain may not fully cover all potential exposures;
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ongoing proceedings relating to the default by two of the Company’s wholly-owned special purpose vehicles under limited recourse equipment financing facilities; ongoing securities litigation relating in part to the default; and any future
litigation, claims and/or regulatory investigations, and the costs, expenses, use of resources, diversion of management time and efforts, liability and damages that may result therefrom;
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our failure to comply with any laws including the anti-corruption laws of the United States and various international jurisdictions;
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any failure of our compliance and risk management methods;
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any laws, regulations and ethical standards that may relate to our business, including those that relate to Bitcoin and the Bitcoin mining industry and those that relate to any other solutions we may offer (such as HPC solutions),
including regulations related to data privacy, cybersecurity and the storage, use or processing of information;
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our ability to attract, motivate and retain senior management and qualified employees;
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increased risks to our global operations including, but not limited to, political instability, acts of terrorism, theft and vandalism, cyberattacks and other cybersecurity incidents and unexpected regulatory and economic sanctions changes,
among other things;
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climate change, severe weather conditions and natural and man-made disasters that may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;
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the ongoing effects of COVID-19 or any other outbreak of an infectious disease and any governmental or industry measures taken in response;
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our ability to remain competitive in dynamic and rapidly evolving industries;
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damage to our brand and reputation;
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the costs of being a public company; and
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other risk factors disclosed under “Item 3.D.—Risk Factors” in this annual report.
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GLOSSARY OF INDUSTRY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
This annual report includes a number of industry terms and concepts which are defined as follows:
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AI/ML: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) is computer software that mimics human cognitive abilities in order to perform complex tasks, such as decision
making, data analysis, language translation and a variety of tools and services across the emergent AI industry that have been developed to leverage AI capabilities. Machine Learning (“ML”) is a subset of AI in which algorithms are trained on
data sets to become machine learning models capable of performing specific tasks.
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ASICs: An Application Specific Integrated Circuit is a type of integrated circuit that is custom-designed for a particular use, rather than intended for general-purpose use.
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Bitcoin: A system of global, decentralized, scarce, digital money as initially introduced in a white paper titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System by Satoshi Nakamoto.
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Bitcoin Network: The collection of all nodes running the Bitcoin protocol. This includes miners that use computing power to maintain the ledger and add new blocks to the blockchain.
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Block: A bundle of transactions analogous with digital pages in a ledger. Transactions are bundled into blocks, which are then added to the ledger. Miners are rewarded for “mining” a new block.
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Blockchain: A software program containing a cryptographically secure digital ledger that maintains a record of all transactions that occur on the network, that enables peer-to-peer transmission of
transaction information, and that follows a consensus protocol for confirming new blocks to be added to the blockchain.
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CBDC: Central bank digital currency.
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Cryptocurrency or Digital Asset: Bitcoin and alternative coins, or “altcoins,” launched after the success of Bitcoin. This category is designed to serve functions including as a medium of exchange,
store of value, and/or to power applications.
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Difficulty: In the context of Bitcoin mining, a measure of the relative complexity of the algorithmic solution required for a miner to mine a block and receive the Bitcoin reward. An increase in
global hashrate will temporarily result in faster block times as the mining algorithm is solved quicker – and vice versa if the global hashrate decreases. The Bitcoin network protocol adjusts the network difficulty every 2,016 blocks
(approximately every two weeks) to maintain a target block time of 10 minutes.
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EH/s: Exahash per second. 1 EH/s equals one quintillion hashes per second (1,000,000,000,000,000,000 h/s).
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Fiat Currency: A government issued currency that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as gold or silver, but rather by the government that issued it.
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Fork: A fundamental change to the software underlying a blockchain which may result in two different blockchains, the original, and the new version, each with their own token.
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Founders: Daniel Roberts and William Roberts – co-founders and Co-Chief Executive Officers.
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GPUs: Graphics processing units are a type of computing technology designed for parallel processing, which can be used in a wide range of applications, including graphics and video rendering,
gaming, creative production and AI.
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Hash: To compute a function that takes an input, and then outputs an alphanumeric string known as the “hash value.”
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Hashrate: The speed at which a miner can produce computations (hashes) using the Bitcoin network’s algorithm, expressed in hashes per second. The hashrate of all miners on a particular network is
referred to as the global hashrate.
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HPC: High-performance computing, which refers to the aggregation of computing power to achieve higher performance levels, often utilized to perform complex calculations in fields including science,
engineering, finance, AI/ML, and business. It typically involves using supercomputers or clusters of computers, often employing parallel processing, to perform calculations simultaneously, thereby greatly reducing computation time.
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Miner: Individuals or entities who operate a computer or group of computers that compete to mine blocks. Bitcoin miners who successfully mine blocks are rewarded with new Bitcoin as well as any
transaction fees.
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Mining: The process by which new Bitcoin blocks are created, and thus new transactions are added to the blockchain in the Bitcoin network.
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Mining pools: Mining pools are platforms for miners to contribute their hashrate in exchange for digital assets, including Bitcoin, and in some cases regardless of whether the pool effectively mines
any block. Miners tend to join pools to increase payout frequency, with pools generally offering daily payouts, and to externalize to the pool the risk of a block taking longer than statistically expected from the network difficulty. Mining
pools offers these services in exchange for a fee.
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MW: Megawatts. 1MW equals 1,000 kilowatts.
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PH/s: Petahash per second. 1 PH/s equals one quadrillion hashes per second (1,000,000,000,000,000 h/s).
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Proof-of-work: A protocol for establishing consensus across a system that ties mining capability to computational power. Hashing a block, which is in itself an easy computational process, now
requires each miner to solve for a certain difficulty variable periodically adjusted by the Bitcoin network protocol. In effect, the process of hashing each block becomes a competition and, as a result, the overall process of hashing requires
time and computational effort.
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Proof-of-stake: An alternative consensus protocol, in which a “validator” typically may use their own digital assets to validate transactions or blocks. Validators may “stake” their digital assets on
whichever transactions they choose to validate. If a validator validates a block (group of transactions) correctly, it will receive a reward. Typically, if a validator verifies an incorrect transaction, it may lose the digital assets that it
staked. Proof-of-stake generally requires a negligible amount of computing power compared to Proof-of-work.
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Protocol: The software that governs how a blockchain operates.
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Public key or private key: Each public address on a blockchain network has a corresponding public key and private key that are cryptographically generated. A private key allows the recipient to
access any digital assets associated with the address, similar to a bank account password. A public key helps validate transactions that are broadcasted to and from the address. Public keys are derived from private keys.
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REC: Renewable Energy Certificate.
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SEC: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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TH/s: Terahash per second. 1 TH/s equals one trillion hashes per second (1,000,000,000,000 h/s).
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Wallet: A place to store public and private keys for blockchains (similar to storage applications for usernames and passwords). Wallets are typically software, hardware, or paper-based.
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| ITEM 1. |
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
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Not applicable.
| ITEM 2. |
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
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Not applicable.
| ITEM 3. |
KEY INFORMATION
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Not applicable.
Not applicable.
An investment in our Ordinary shares is subject to a number of risks. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, which should be read in conjunction with all the other information
presented in this annual report. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not know about or currently think are immaterial may also impair our business operations. Any of
the following risks, if they occur, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Summary of Key Risks
Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, discussed in more detail below. These risks include, among others, the following key risks:
Risks Related to Our Business
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We have a limited operating history, with operating losses as the business has grown. If we cannot sustain greater revenues than our operating costs, we will incur operating losses, which could adversely impact our operations, strategy and
financial performance.
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We have an evolving business model and strategy.
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Our increased focus on potential HPC solutions may not be successful and may result in adverse consequences to our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Our business, operating plans and expansion plans may be delayed or change in light of evolving market conditions and several other factors.
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We may be unable to raise additional capital needed to fulfill our capital or liquidity needs or grow our business and achieve expansion plans.
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Certain of our limited recourse wholly-owned subsidiaries have defaulted on equipment financing agreements and are subject to bankruptcy proceedings and legal action by the lender, and we may be exposed to further claims in connection with
such proceedings.
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Our future success will depend significantly on the price of Bitcoin, which is subject to risk and has historically been subject to significant price volatility, as well as several other factors.
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Our operating results have fluctuated significantly and may continue to fluctuate significantly as a result of several different factors.
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Our business is highly dependent on a small number of equipment suppliers. Failure of our suppliers to perform under the relevant supply contracts or of our ability to fulfill our obligations thereunder could adversely impact our operating
results and financial condition.
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We may not be able to procure hardware on commercially acceptable terms or sufficient funding may not be available to finance the acquisition of hardware.
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Any electricity outage, non-supply or limitation of electricity supply or increase in electricity costs could materially impact our operations and financial performance.
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Any critical failure of key electrical or data center equipment may result in material impacts to our operations and financial performance.
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Serial defects in our ASICs, GPUs and other equipment may result in failure or underperformance relative to expectations and impact our operations and financial performance.
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Adoption of custom firmware for our mining fleet could lead to failures that result in a substantial decrease in our mining fleet’s hashrate.
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Supply chain and logistics issues for us, our contractors or our suppliers may delay our expansion plans or increase the cost of constructing our infrastructure.
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Any environmental, health and safety incidents may result in material impacts to our operations and financial performance.
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We may be vulnerable to climate change, severe weather conditions and natural and man-made disasters, including earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and severe storms (including impacts from rain, hail, snow, lightning and
wind), as well as power outages and other industrial incidents, which could severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and adversely affect our results of operations.
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Our properties and equipment may experience damages, including damages that are not covered by insurance.
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Risks Related to Bitcoin
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The transition of digital asset networks such as Bitcoin from proof-of-work mining algorithms to proof-of-stake validation may significantly impact the value of our capital expenditures and investments in machines and real property to
support proof-of-work mining, which could make us less competitive and ultimately adversely affect our business and the value of our Ordinary shares.
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There is a risk of additional Bitcoin mining capacity from competing Bitcoin miners, which would increase the global hashrate and decrease our effective market share.
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Bitcoin is a form of technology which may become redundant or obsolete in the future.
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There is a lack of liquid markets in digital assets, and these markets are subject to possible manipulation.
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Our operations, investment strategies and profitability may be adversely affected by competition from other methods of investing in digital assets or tracking digital asset markets.
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Bitcoin will be subject to block reward halving several times in the future and Bitcoin’s value may not adjust to compensate us for the reduction in the block rewards that we receive from our mining activities.
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Risks Related to Third Parties
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Banks, financial institutions, insurance providers and other counterparties may fail, may not provide relevant goods and services including bank accounts, or may cut off certain banking or other goods and services, including to digital
assets investors or businesses that engage in Bitcoin-related activities or that accept Bitcoin as payment.
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Disruptions at over-the-counter (“OTC”) trading desks and potential consequences of an OTC trading desk’s failure could adversely affect our business. We may be required to, or may otherwise determine it is appropriate to, switch to an
alternative digital asset trading platform and/or custodian.
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Risks Related to Regulations and Regulatory Frameworks
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The regulatory environment regarding digital asset mining is in flux, and we may become subject to changes to and/or additional laws and regulations that may limit our ability to operate.
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Our business and financial condition may be materially adversely affected by changes to and/or increased regulation of energy sources.
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As we continue to expand and localize our international activities, our obligations to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and policies across a variety of jurisdictions will increase and we may be subject to investigations and
enforcement actions by U.S. and non-U.S. regulators and governmental authorities.
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Risks Related to Being a Foreign Private Issuer
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We currently report our financial results under IFRS, which differs from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP.
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As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the U.S. securities laws and are permitted to file less information with the SEC than a U.S. company.
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We are an Australian public company with limited liability. The rights of our shareholders may be different from the rights of shareholders in companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions and may not protect investors in the same
similar fashion afforded by incorporation in a U.S. jurisdiction.
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Risks Related to Our Business
We have a limited operating history, with operating losses as the business has grown. If we cannot sustain greater revenues than our operating costs, we will incur operating
losses, which could adversely impact our operations, strategy and financial performance.
We began Bitcoin mining in 2019. We have a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of the business and its prospects can be based. We may be subject to many risks common to new and growing companies, including
under-capitalization, cash shortages, limitations concerning personnel, financial and other resources and lack of revenues and profitability. We generated a loss after income tax expense of $171.9 million and $419.8 million for the years ended June
30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There is no assurance that we will be successful in executing our business plan, that we will achieve profitability, that we will meet other metrics to measure success, or that you will achieve a return on your
investment.
Our future business plan requires additional substantial expenses in the operation and growth of our business and there can be no assurance that operational objectives will be achieved. Our success will ultimately depend
on our ability to generate cash from our business. If we do not reach our operating objectives, and to the extent that we do not generate cash flow and income, our financial performance and long-term viability may be materially and adversely
affected. An investment in our Ordinary shares must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stage of development.
We have an evolving business model and strategy.
Our business model has significantly evolved since our incorporation, and we expect it to continue to do so in the future. As digital assets become more widely available, we expect their services and products to evolve.
In order to stay current with our industry, our business model will also need to evolve. As a result, from time to time, we may modify aspects of our business model relating to our strategy. Our growth strategy may include exploring the potential
diversification of our revenue sources into new markets, and in June 2023 we announced that we have revitalized our focus on exploring potential diversification into HPC solutions. We cannot offer any assurance that these or any other modifications
to our business model and strategy will be successful or will not result in harm to our business. Such modifications may increase the complexity of our business and place significant strain on our management, personnel, operations, systems, technical
performance, financial resources and internal financial control and reporting functions. Moreover, we may not be able to manage growth effectively, which could damage our reputation, limit our growth and adversely affect our operating results.
Further, we cannot provide any assurance that we will successfully identify all emerging trends and growth opportunities within the digital assets industry, the HPC market or other markets we seek to expand into, and we may lose out on such
opportunities. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Our increased focus on potential HPC solutions may not be successful and may result in adverse consequences to our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our growth strategy includes exploring the potential diversification of our revenue sources into new markets. In particular, we have revitalized our strategy of exploring the potential use of our existing and future
infrastructure to develop and offer HPC solutions to a broad range of industries and applications, which may include scientific research, engineering, rendering and AI/ML. We believe our future success will depend in part on our ability to execute on
our growth strategy and expand into new markets.
We have limited experience in developing and offering HPC solutions, or acquiring the relevant components to develop an offering of HPC solutions. We may experience difficulties with infrastructure development or
modification, engineering, product design, product development, marketing or certification, which could result in excessive research and development expenses and capital expenditure, delays or prevent us from developing and offering HPC solutions at
all. Our focus on developing and offering HPC solutions may also disrupt our business, divert our resources, and require significant management attention that would otherwise be available for utilization within and development of our existing
business. Additionally, our ability to develop and offer HPC solutions relies on third-party components, including GPUs for which there are limited suppliers, which require significant capital expenditure and may be difficult to procure given the
current elevated demand. We may be unable to raise the required capital as a result of the risks described under “—We may be unable to raise additional capital to fulfill our capital or liquidity needs and/or grow our business and achieve our
expansion plans.”
In addition, as we continue to enter into new markets such as HPC, we will face new sources of competition, new business models and new customer relationships. In order to be successful, we will need to cultivate new
industry relationships and strengthen existing relationships to bring any new solutions and offerings to market, and the success of any HPC solutions we develop will depend on many factors, including demand for HPC, our ability to win and maintain
customers, and the cost, performance and perceived value of any HPC solutions we develop. As a result, there can be no assurance that any HPC solutions we develop will be adopted by the market, or be profitable or viable. Our limited experience with
respect to HPC solutions could limit our ability to successfully execute on this growth strategy or adapt to market changes. If we are unsuccessful in developing and offering HPC solutions, our business, results of operations and financial condition
could be adversely affected.
The market for HPC solutions is driven in large part by demand for server clusters, specialized or high-performance applications, and hosted software solutions which require fast and efficient data processing, and is
characterized by rapid advances in technologies. It is difficult to predict the development of demand for HPC solutions, the size and growth rate for this market, the entry of competitive products, or the success of any existing or future products
that may compete with any HPC solutions we may develop. If there a reduction in demand for any HPC solutions, whether caused by a lack of customer acceptance, a slowdown in demand for computational power, an overabundance of unused computational
power, technological challenges, competing technologies and solutions, decreases in corporate spending, weakening economic conditions or otherwise, it could result in reduced customer orders, early order cancellations, the loss of customers, or
decreased sales, any of which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our investments in further developing and offering HPC solutions in addition to our existing business of Bitcoin mining may result in new or enhanced governmental or regulatory scrutiny, litigation, confidentiality or
security risks, ethical concerns, or other complications that could adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations or financial condition. The increasing focus on the risks and strategic importance of certain HPC applications, such
as AI/ML technologies, has already resulted in regulatory restrictions that target products and services capable of enabling or facilitating AI/ML, and may in the future result in additional restrictions impacting any offerings we may develop,
including HPC solutions. Complying with multiple regulations from different jurisdictions related to new solutions that we develop could increase our cost of doing business or may change the way that we operate in certain jurisdictions. Furthermore,
concerns regarding third-party use of AI/ML for purposes contrary to governmental and societal interests, including concerns relating to the misuse of AI/ML applications, models, and solutions, could result in restrictions on AI/ML products which in
turn reduce the demand for HPC solutions and negatively impact our business and financial results. It is also unclear how our status as an infrastructure provider for customers developing and deploying AI/ML applications as opposed to developing such
applications ourselves will affect the applicability of these regulations on any offerings.
Failure to effectively manage our growth could place strains on our managerial, operational and financial resources and could adversely affect our business and operating results.
Our current and future growth, including increases in the number of our strategic relationships and our strategy of exploring diversification of our revenue sources, may place a strain on our managerial, operational and
financial resources and systems, as well as on our management team. We may not be successful in growing our business, or at managing our growth effectively. We may also fail to develop and expand our managerial, operational and financial resources
and systems as we grow. Any of the foregoing could limit our growth and could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business, operating plans and expansion plans may be delayed or change in light of evolving market conditions and several other factors.
Our business plan is predicated on multiple assumptions, including our ability to procure additional hardware for Bitcoin mining and for HPC solutions that we aim to develop, in each case with certain performance
specifications at certain future dates and prices, and the acquisition, development and construction of additional locations and infrastructure to host such hardware. Our business plan is subject to change due to various factors, including market
conditions, our ability to raise additional capital, the ability to procure equipment in a quantity, at a cost, to a certain quality, to certain specifications and on a timeline that is consistent with our business plan, and the ability to identify
and acquire additional locations for new data center and electrical infrastructure sites to replicate the existing operating model at our operational facilities or build facilities adopting new operating models consistent with our business plan.
For example, in June 2022, we announced that, having regard to current market conditions and available financing terms, we intend to defer additional major capital expenditure for work beyond our initial 4.3 EH/s of
hashrate capacity to preserve balance sheet flexibility until market uncertainty subsides and financing terms improve. In light of evolving market conditions, we have subsequently expanded our current hashrate capacity to 5.6 EH/s (as of August 31,
2023) and in June 2023, announced the plan for the potential construction of an additional 80MW of data centers at our Childress site, targeting potential expansion of aggregate hashrate capacity across all our operating sites from 5.6 EH/s to
approximately 9.1 EH/s of potential hashrate capacity (assuming the purchase of Bitmain S19XP miners and full utilization of such additional data center capacity). Our near-term focus remains on data center construction, which is subject to funding
and market conditions. Miners have not yet been purchased in respect of the Childress expansion beyond the currently operational 20MW or for any other expansion of operating capacity at our sites, and we continue to monitor the market for funding and
purchase opportunities. In June 2023, we also announced the revitalization of our prior HPC strategy.
We will continue to review expansion plans in light of evolving market conditions. Any such delays, inability to raise capital and any failure to execute on growth strategies, could adversely impact our business,
capacity, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
We may be unable to raise additional capital needed to fulfill our capital or liquidity needs or grow our business and achieve expansion plans.
We will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations, increase our data center and hashrate capacity, meet hardware purchase commitments, pursue potential growth strategies (such as developing HPC solutions
and potential acquisitions of complementary businesses), and respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated working capital requirements.
In the future, we will also need to raise additional capital to finance our business operations and planned and potential growth, including to fund additional construction at existing or new sites, to develop new sites
to increase our data center capacity and to fund the purchase of additional equipment to increase our operating capacity and potentially expand into new markets. We may seek to raise additional capital through future offerings of debt securities
(including potentially convertible debt securities), which would rank senior to our Ordinary shares upon our bankruptcy or liquidation, and future offerings of equity securities, which may be senior to our Ordinary shares for the purposes of dividend
and liquidating distributions. An issuance of additional equity securities or securities with a right to convert into equity, such as convertible bonds or warrant bonds, could adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary shares and would dilute
the economic and voting interests of shareholders. We may be required to accept terms that restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness or to take other actions including terms that require us to maintain specified liquidity or other ratios
that could otherwise not be in the interests of our shareholders. As the timing and nature of any future offering would depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, it is not possible to predict or estimate the amount, timing, or
nature of future offerings.
We may not be able to obtain additional debt, equity or equity-linked financing on favorable terms, if at all, which could impair our growth, adversely affect our existing operations and require us to seek additional
capital, sell assets or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. In addition, if the terms of additional financing are less favorable or require us to comply with more onerous covenants or restrictions, our business operations could be restricted.
Any of the foregoing could adversely impact our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Certain of our limited recourse wholly-owned subsidiaries have defaulted on equipment financing agreements and are subject to bankruptcy proceedings and legal action by the
lender, and we may be exposed to claims in connection with such proceedings.
We previously entered into three limited recourse equipment financing facilities (each a “Facility” and, together, the “Facilities”) through three separate wholly-owned, non-recourse special purpose vehicles of the
Company (“Non-Recourse SPV 1,” “Non-Recourse SPV 2” and “Non-Recourse SPV 3,” and collectively the “Non-Recourse SPVs”), pursuant to which certain lending entities of New York Digital Investment Group LLC (“NYDIG”) agreed to finance part of the
purchase price of various miners that had been, or were scheduled to be, delivered to such subsidiaries of the Company.
We announced in November 2022 that the miners owned by Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 that secure their respective Facilities produce insufficient cash flow to service their respective debt financing
obligations. As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $103.4 million aggregate principal amount of loans outstanding under such Facilities. Such Facilities are secured by approximately 3.6 EH/s of miners, as well as other assets of the
applicable Non-Recourse SPV (such as any cash and cash equivalents, prepayments, tax assets and any other receivables relating to such Non-Recourse SPVs and miners).
On November 4, 2022, the Non-Recourse SPVs received notices of defaults from the lender under their respective Facilities alleging, among other things, the occurrence of certain defaults, and purporting to declare the
loans under the Facilities of Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 immediately due and payable. Further, on November 18, 2022, such Non-Recourse SPVs received a notice from the lender stating that the entire principal amount of the Facilities of
Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3, under which the lender claimed there was aggregate outstanding indebtedness of approximately $107.8 million as of November 18, 2022 (including accrued interest and late fees), had been declared immediately
due and payable pursuant to the November 4, 2022 purported acceleration notice. Such notice demanded payment in full with respect to each Facility, and stated that if payment is not received in full by November 29, 2022 then the lender intends to
take steps to enforce the indebtedness and its rights in the collateral securing the Facilities, including bringing an application for the appointment of a receiver. Following receipt of the purported acceleration notice on November 4, 2022, certain
other subsidiaries of the Company terminated their respective hosting arrangements with Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3, and none of the approximately 3.6 EH/s of miners owned by such Non-Recourse SPVs have been operating since that
termination, which materially reduced our hashrate capacity.
In December 2022, Non-Recourse SPV 1 repaid in full one such Facility pursuant to which approximately $1.3 million of borrowings and fees were outstanding. The remaining two Facilities, pursuant to which $35.0 million
and $77.2 million of borrowings were outstanding as of December 31, 2022, respectively, were not repaid by Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3. In February 2023, the lenders to such Non-Recourse SPVs commenced steps to enforce the indebtedness
and their asserted rights in the collateral securing such limited recourse facilities (including the approximately 3.6 EH/s of miners securing such facilities and other assets of such Non-Recourse SPVs), and appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. (the
“Receiver”) as receiver in respect of the assets, undertakings and property of both Non-Recourse SPVs on February 3, 2023. On June 28, 2023, the Receiver filed an assignment in bankruptcy on behalf of such Non-Recourse SPVs and was appointed as
trustee of the Non-Recourse SPVs’ estates, and this appointment was affirmed at the meeting of creditors held on July 18, 2023. The receivership and bankruptcy proceedings are ongoing.
NYDIG filed an application with The Supreme Court of British Columbia (the “Court”) seeking, among other things, declarations to the effect that any difference between revenue generated by the Non-Recourse SPVs through
the provision of hashpower services to Iris Energy Limited and Bitcoin mined by Iris Energy Limited is collateral securing the Facilities, as well as substantive consolidation of certain Group entities and claims of fraudulent conveyance and
oppression. A hearing was held in the Court on June 13 to 15, 2023 in respect of such application, among other things. On August 10, 2023, the Court issued a ruling affirming the Company’s position that, among other things, the Bitcoin mined by the
Company is not collateral securing such facilities and there is no parent guarantee with respect to the equipment financing facilities, and no relief in respect of substantive consolidation was granted. However, the Court declared transactions
pursuant to hashpower services provided by the relevant Non-Recourse SPVs to the Company to be void, and noted that based on the submissions to date the discrepancy between the value that the Company received for the hashpower and the consideration
paid to the Non-Recourse SPVs is between $3.0 million and $11.9 million. The Company disagrees with the decision and certain factual findings and filed a notice to appeal with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia on August 21, 2023. However,
legal proceedings are subject to many uncertainties and there can be no assurances as to the final outcome of such appeal or such proceedings more generally, including the amount of any potential damages, settlement payments or liability that may be
incurred by the Company, any of which could be higher than the discrepancy in value noted by the Court or than otherwise anticipated. Moreover, the lender or the Receiver under each such Facility could also bring other claims against the Company
and/or its other subsidiaries, which could result in further litigation and/or additional claims in the current legal proceedings. Any of the foregoing could result in substantial legal and other costs and damage to the Company’s reputation, and
could divert management’s attention and resources. If successful, any such proceedings could also result in significant liability for the Company and/or its other subsidiaries.
Depending on the outcome of the foregoing bankruptcy and Court proceedings, they could result in a material adverse effect on our business, expansion plans, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, and
may also cause the market value of our Ordinary shares to decline. In addition, the foregoing could also have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue as a going concern, which may exacerbate the risks described under “—General Risk
Factors—There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern”.
If at any time we have additional special purpose vehicles that are borrowers under equipment financing or other facilities, such borrowers could be subject to similar risks to those described above. In particular, the
ability of any such borrowers to satisfy obligations under any such facilities may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in the price of Bitcoin, the Bitcoin network global hashrate and other factors outside our control, including those described
herein. To the extent any such other borrowers are unable to make required payments on their debt obligations or they are otherwise unable to comply with covenants under such facilities, a default or event of default may be triggered under such debt
obligations. There can be no assurance that any such borrower would be able to restructure, refinance or modify any such facility or obtain a waiver on commercially reasonable terms or otherwise, in which case the relevant lender could seek to
accelerate such debt and pursue one or more remedies available to it, including foreclosing on any applicable collateral, any of which could lead to bankruptcy or liquidation of the relevant borrower.
Our future success will depend significantly on the price of Bitcoin, which is subject to risk and has historically been subject to significant price volatility, as well as
several other factors.
We generate our revenue from the sale of Bitcoin as a result of rewards and transaction fees received in exchange for contributing computational power to mining pools to validate transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Similarly, our operating cash flow substantially depends on our ability to sell Bitcoin for fiat currency as needed. In developing our business plan and operating budget, as well as expansion plans, we make certain assumptions regarding future
Bitcoin prices. While part of our business strategy includes exploring the potential diversification of our revenue sources, any potential further expansion into new markets (such as HPC solutions) will take time to implement, and there can be no
assurance that we will be successful in doing so in the near term or at all.
The prices that we receive for our Bitcoin depend on numerous market factors beyond our control. Accordingly, some underlying Bitcoin price assumptions relied on by us may materially change and actual Bitcoin prices may
differ materially from those expected. For instance, the introduction of digital assets backed by central banks, known as “CBDCs,” could significantly reduce the demand for Bitcoin. Due to the highly volatile nature of the price of Bitcoin, our
historical operating results have fluctuated, and may continue to fluctuate, significantly from period to period in accordance with market sentiment and movements in the broader digital assets ecosystem. For example, the price of Bitcoin has
fluctuated considerably during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, from a low of approximately $15,800 per Bitcoin in November 2022 to a high of approximately $30,700 per Bitcoin in June 2023.
There is no assurance that any digital asset, including Bitcoin, will maintain its value or that there will be meaningful levels of trading activities to support markets in any digital asset and any adverse movements in
Bitcoin prices or exchange rates (including the rates at which we may convert Bitcoin to fiat currency) may adversely affect our financial performance, financial condition, prospects, expansion plans and the results of operations. We are also exposed
to currency exchange rate fluctuations because portions of our revenue and expenses are currently, and may continue to be in the future, denominated in currencies other than our presentation currency (U.S. dollars), and because our income is in
Bitcoin rather than in any fiat currency. Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect the results of operations, financial performance and the value of our assets in the future. A decline in the market value of Bitcoin or the demand for trading
Bitcoin could lead to a corresponding decline in the value of our Bitcoin assets and the number of transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain network.
Further, revenue for Bitcoin miners consists of the block reward and transaction fees. Transaction fees are not pre-determined by the Bitcoin protocol and vary based on market factors, such as user demand, the number of
transactions and the capacity of the network. In addition, “off-chain” solutions (for example, Lightning Protocol and Statechains), which have been introduced to allow users to transact away from the blockchain, may lower miner revenues from
transaction fees. Any of the factors could adversely impact our opportunities to earn block rewards and transaction fees, which could adversely affect our business, financial performance, financial condition and results of operations.
Any decline in the amount of Bitcoin that we successfully mine, the price of Bitcoin or market liquidity for Bitcoin, and digital assets generally, would adversely affect our revenue and ability to fund our operations
and expansion plans. There has been high volatility in the market price of Bitcoin and other digital assets and, in calendar year 2022, a significant decline in the price of Bitcoin, as well as the market price of many technology stocks, including
ours.
Our operating results have fluctuated significantly and may continue to fluctuate significantly as a result of several different factors.
Annual expenses and revenues reflected in our financial statements may differ significantly from historical levels. As a result of this and other factors, it is difficult for us to forecast growth trends accurately and
our business and prospects are difficult to evaluate, particularly in the short term. In addition, due to the rapidly evolving nature of our business and the digital assets ecosystem, as well as our evolving business strategy and any potential
further expansion into new markets (such as HPC solutions) that we may pursue, period-to-period comparisons of our operating results may not be meaningful, and you should not rely upon them as an indication of future performance. Our operating
results in one or more future periods may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors. As a result, the trading price of our Ordinary shares may increase or decrease significantly.
In addition, our operating results may continue to fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are unpredictable and in certain instances are outside of our control, including:
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market conditions across the broader blockchain ecosystem;
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investment and trading activities of highly active retail and institutional users, speculators, miners and investors;
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the financial strength of market participants and our counterparties;
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changes in consumer preferences and perceived value of digital assets, including Bitcoin;
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publicity and events relating to the blockchain ecosystem, including public perception of the impact of the blockchain ecosystem on the environment as well as high-profile failures of and/or dishonest or illegal actions by market
participants;
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the correlation between the prices of digital assets, including the potential that a crash in one digital asset or widespread defaults on one digital asset exchange or trading venue may cause a crash in the price of other digital assets,
or a series of defaults by counterparties on digital asset exchanges or trading venues;
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loss of confidence in the Bitcoin market as a result of business failures in the broader digital asset ecosystem;
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fees and speed associated with processing Bitcoin transactions;
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our evolving business strategy, including the potential diversification into new markets (such as HPC solutions) and the development and introduction of existing and new products and technology by us, our competitors or others;
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increases in operating expenses that we expect to incur to grow and expand our operations and to remain competitive;
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the level of interest rates and inflation;
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changes in the legislative or regulatory environment or ethical standards, or actions by governments or regulators that impact monetary policies, fiat currency devaluations, trade restrictions, the provision of electricity to mining
operations, the digital assets industry generally, or mining operations specifically, the HPC industry generally or our plans to explore the potential offering of HPC solutions specifically;
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difficulty obtaining new hardware and related installation costs;
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access to cost-effective sources of electrical power and renewable energy or renewable energy certificates;
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evolving cryptographic algorithms and emerging trends in the technology securing blockchains, including proof-of-stake;
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adverse legal proceedings or regulatory enforcement actions, judgments, settlements or other legal proceeding and enforcement-related costs;
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system or equipment failure or outages, including with respect to our hardware, custom firmware, data center infrastructure, power supply and third party networks;
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breaches of security or data privacy;
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loss of trust in the network due to a latent fault in the Bitcoin network;
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our ability to attract and retain talent;
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our ability to hedge risks related to our ownership of digital assets;
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the introduction of new digital assets, leading to a decreased adoption of Bitcoin; and
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our ability to compete.
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Our operating results in one or more future periods may continue to fluctuate significantly as a result of these or other factors. Fluctuations in our operating results may in turn cause the trading price of our Ordinary
shares to increase or decrease significantly.
We have incurred significant net losses since inception, and we expect to continue to incur net losses. Our operating expenses may also outpace our revenue in future periods,
which could seriously harm our business or increase our losses.
Since our inception in 2018, we have incurred significant net losses. Our net losses after income taxes were $171.9 million, $419.8 million and $60.4 million for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021,
respectively. As of June 30, 2023, we had accumulated losses of $654.3 million. We expect to continue to incur net losses as we continue to grow and diversify our business.
In addition, our operating expenses in some historical periods have exceeded our mining revenue, resulting in operating losses. Our operating expenses may be greater than we anticipate in future periods, and our
investments to make our business more efficient and, if applicable, to diversity our revenue sources may not succeed and may outpace monetization efforts. Our operating expenses have increased as a result of compliance and other costs associated with
being a publicly listed company as well as costs incurred as we grow and develop our managerial, operational and financial resources and systems, and may continue to increase in the future, including as a result of increasing inflationary pressures,
as well as the growth of our business and potential expansion into new markets such as HPC solutions. Increases in our operating costs without a corresponding increase in our revenue could result in operating losses, which could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Our business is highly dependent on a small number of equipment suppliers. Failure of our suppliers to perform under the relevant supply contracts or of our ability to fulfill our
obligations thereunder could adversely impact our operating results and financial condition.
We have historically relied on a single digital asset mining equipment supplier, Bitmain, to supply us with digital asset mining machines to meet our expansion plans. There can be no assurance that additional supplies of
digital asset mining equipment or any other equipment will be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, or that any supplier would be able to provide sufficient equipment to us to meet our requirements. Even if we were
able to procure equipment, we may encounter delays and incur added costs as a result of the time it takes to negotiate terms and install new hardware, and the pricing, delivery schedule and other terms of any such alternative source may be less
favorable. As a result, any change in our equipment suppliers could adversely affect our expansion plans, business, financial performance, financial condition and results of operations.
There are a limited number of digital asset mining and HPC solutions equipment suppliers in the market today, and the market price and availability of equipment can be volatile based on market supply and demand dynamics.
In relation to Bitcoin, higher Bitcoin prices increase the demand for mining equipment and increases the cost. In addition, as more companies seek to enter the mining industry, the demand for machines may outpace supply and create mining machine
equipment shortages. In relation to hardware required for HPC solutions we may offer, demand for Nvidia GPU chipsets and certain networking equipment currently far exceeds supply.
There are no assurances that suppliers will be able to keep pace with any surge in demand for equipment.
Further, equipment purchase contracts may not be favorable to purchasers and we may have little or no recourse in the event an equipment manufacturer defaults on its delivery commitments. If we cannot obtain a sufficient
quantity of mining equipment or, if applicable, other equipment such as HPC solutions equipment, at commercially acceptable prices, our growth expectations, our ability to expand into new markets such as HPC solutions we may offer, liquidity,
financial condition and results of operations will be adversely impacted.
Additionally, if our third-party manufacturers and suppliers are late in delivery, cancel or default on their supply obligations or deliver underperforming or faulty equipment, it could cause material delays or affect
the performance of our operations. Some of our supply contracts may contain equipment warranties and protections with respect to late delivery; however, these warranties may not be able to be successfully claimed against or may be inadequate to
compensate for the impact to our operating results and financial condition.
We may not be able to procure hardware on commercially acceptable terms or sufficient funding may not be available to finance the acquisition of hardware.
The success of our business is dependent on our ability to acquire and configure appropriate hardware solutions to remain competitive. There can be no assurances that the most efficient Bitcoin mining hardware or, if
applicable, other equipment such as HPC solutions equipment will be readily available when we identify the need for it, that it will be available to us at a commercially acceptable price or that funding will be available to finance its acquisition.
For example, in relation to our proposed expansion plan at Childress, additional miners have not yet been purchased and we continue to monitor the market for capital and potential purchase opportunities. Similarly, there can be no assurance that we
will be able to procure necessary hardware at commercially acceptable prices or at all in order to implement our business strategy which includes exploring the potential diversification of our revenue sources by offering HPC solutions or otherwise,
or that funding will be available. Inability to secure funding or appropriate hardware may delay or prevent the timely completion of our growth strategies and anticipated increases in capacity, and may adversely affect our operations, financial
position and financial performance.
The price of new miners is typically linked to the market price of Bitcoin and, if the market price of Bitcoin increases, our costs of obtaining new and replacement miners may
increase, which may have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The price of new miners is subject to market fluctuations. Such fluctuations are influenced by factors including, but not limited to, the price of Bitcoin, the global hashrate, as well as supply and demand for mining
equipment. A similar dynamic may also be observed in the HPC solutions market where demand for Nvidia GPUs and certain networking equipment far exceeds supply, impacting the price and availability of such hardware.
As a result, the cost of new machines and equipment has been and may in the future be unpredictable, and may also be significantly higher than our historical cost.
We have historically incurred significant upfront capital costs each time we acquire new miners, and, if future prices of Bitcoin are not sufficiently high, we may not realize the benefit of these capital expenditures.
In relation to hardware that may be required for HPC solutions, equipment manufacturers may also similarly require significant upfront capital contributions (for example, large upfront payments in respect of GPU and other equipment purchases). If
this occurs, our business, financial performance, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, which may in turn have an adverse impact on the trading price of our Ordinary shares.
Any electricity outage, non-supply or limitation of electricity supply or increase in electricity costs could materially impact our operations and financial performance.
Our primary input is electricity. We rely on third parties, including utility providers, for the reliable and sufficient supply of electricity to our infrastructure. We cannot guarantee that these third parties will be
able to provide any electrical power including at sufficient levels and consistently, or will have the necessary infrastructure to deliver any power that we may require, or that we will be able to procure power from or recontract with them on
commercially acceptable terms. Non-supply or restrictions on the supply of, or our failure to procure, sufficient electricity could adversely affect our operating performance and revenue by constraining the number of ASICs or other hardware
(including hardware for any HPC solutions we may offer) that we can operate at any one time. This may adversely impact customers for any hosting or HPC solutions we may offer, for example by adversely impacting our ability to meet contractual
requirements in respect of uptime, availability or performance.
Our access to electricity, or sufficient electricity, may be affected by climate change, severe weather, acts of God, natural and man-made disasters, political or market operator interventions, utility equipment failure
or scheduled and unscheduled maintenance that results in electricity outages to the utility’s or the broader electrical network’s facilities. These electricity outages may occur with little or no warning and be of unpredictable duration. Further, our
counterparties may be unable to deliver the required amount of power for various technical, economic or political reasons. As Bitcoin mining and operation of data centers generally (including, for example, to provide HPC solutions) are energy
intensive and backup power generation may be expensive to procure, any backup electricity supplies may not be available or may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, or be sufficient to power some or all of our hardware in an affected
location for the duration of the outage. Any such events, including any significant nonperformance by counterparties, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial performance, financial condition and results of operations.
The price we pay for electricity depends on numerous factors including sources of generation, regulatory environment, electricity market structure,
commodity prices, instantaneous supply/demand balances, severe or prolonged weather events, counterparties and procurement method. These factors may be subject to change over time and result in increased power costs. In particular, in British
Columbia, Canada (BC), we purchase our electricity pursuant to a regulated tariff which is subject to adjustment annually which may result in an increase in the cost of electricity we purchase. For example, on April 21, 2023, as part of BC
Hydro’s electricity rate review, the British Columbia Utilities Commission released an order approving, for the fiscal year commencing April 1, 2023: (i) an increase in the regulated rate by 0.97%; and (ii) setting of the Deferral Account Rate
Rider (effectively a discount applicable to a user’s electricity costs) at 1% (previously at 2%). The combined impact of the above order, all else being equal, was an increase in the Company’s all-in unit cost of electricity in British Columbia
of approximately 2%. In September 2023, we were notified by BC Hydro of a further 0.17% increase to its rates for the April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 period (to be applied retroactively) as well as a further 0.20% increase to its rates for the
April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 period. This updated rate is generally fixed for a period of 12 months. We can provide no assurances that any future BC Hydro rate changes will be at a similar level, and it is possible future changes could be
material increases.
In addition, in Texas, the electricity market is deregulated and operates through a competitive wholesale market. Electricity prices in Texas are
subject to many factors, such as, for example, fluctuations in commodity prices including the price of fossil fuels and other energy sources. The market for oil, gas and other fossil fuel energy sources was volatile during calendar year 2022, and
we can provide no assurances that such price disruptions in such deregulated markets will not result in material increases in the price for electricity in such markets in the future. Similarly, high temperatures experienced in Texas during the
Summers of 2022 and 2023 were partially responsible for historically high electrical demand from the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”), the organization that operates Texas’ electrical grid, which was reflected in higher than usual
wholesale electricity prices during this period. High wholesale electricity prices directly impact the price we pay for electricity. As part of our electricity procurement strategies in Texas, we may participate in demand response programs, load
curtailment in response to prices, or other programs, including the use of automated systems to reduce our power consumption in response to market signals. Such automated systems may activate incorrectly or fail from time to time, or our manual
operations may not be able to respond as intended, and there is no guarantee that our participation in demand response programs, load curtailment in response to prices, or other programs, will result in electricity price reductions or additional
revenue. In addition, a recent bill passed by the Texas Senate would essentially provide that Bitcoin miners can only account for less than 10% of demand response at any given time. Although the bill was not voted on by the House, it can be
reintroduced at some later time. Some demand response programs have regulatory compliance obligations that, if not adhered to or met, may result in fines or penalties. While we aim to mitigate price disruptions (for example, we may seek to purchase
electricity market derivatives or hedges to minimize wholesale price volatility), there is no guarantee that such arrangements will be successful in mitigating volatility or increases in wholesale market prices. Increases and fluctuations in the
cost of electricity we purchase could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial performance, financial condition and results of operations.
Further, the supply of electricity for our existing or future operations could be limited as a result of political pressure or regulation. For example, in December 2022, the Government of British Columbia announced a
temporary 18-month suspension on new and early-stage BC Hydro connection requests from cryptocurrency mining projects. While that suspension does not impact existing Bitcoin mining operations or late-stage connection requests from cryptocurrency
mining projects, there can be no assurance that our existing operations and our ability to grow our business will not be impacted by similar factors in the future.
Any long-term outage or limitation of the internet connection at our sites could materially impact our operations and financial performance.
Our ability to validate and verify Bitcoin transactions, secure transaction blocks and add those to the Bitcoin blockchain, either directly or through a mining pool, is dependent on our ability to connect to the Bitcoin
network or mining pools through the internet. Similarly, our ability to offer other products or services using our data center capacity (such as hosting or HPC solutions we may offer) is also dependent on our ability to connect to the internet. Any
extended downtime, limitations in bandwidth or other constraints may affect our ability to contribute some or all of our computing power to the network or mining pools. We may not have backup internet connections at our operations, and any backup
internet connections may not be sufficient to support all of our, or our customers, Bitcoin mining and HPC solutions equipment in an affected location for the duration of the outage, limitations or constraints to the primary internet connection. Any
such events could have a material adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition.
Any critical failure of key electrical or data center equipment may result in material impacts to our operations and financial performance.
Certain key pieces of electrical or data center equipment may represent single points of failure for some or all of the power capacity at our operating sites. Any failure or imminent risk of failure of such equipment may
result in our inability to utilize some or all of our equipment in an affected location for the duration of time it takes to repair or remediate equipment, or procure and install replacement parts.
For example, high voltage circuit breakers represent a single point of failure at all of our sites. If it fails, this will result in the site being non-operational. We estimate that the current lead time required to
replace the various circuit breakers is 15 to 140 weeks, which lead time could increase. There are other items of equipment at each of our sites that, upon failure, could result in the entire site or certain sections of the site being
non-operational. These include, but are not limited to, the high voltage transformers, low voltage transformers and switchgear, all of which currently have estimated lead times ranging between 16 to 90 weeks, and are subject to increase.
Due to the long-lead times required to acquire some of the equipment used in our operations, the failure of such parts could result in lengthy outages at an affected location, and could materially impact our operations
(including impacts on potential hosting or HPC solutions customers), financial results and financial condition.
Serial defects in our ASICs, GPUs and other equipment may result in failure or underperformance relative to expectations and impact our operations and financial performance.
Our operations contain certain items of equipment that have a high concentration from one manufacturer (for example, our ASICs and HPC solutions hardware). Additionally, the equipment we rely on may experience defects in
workmanship or performance throughout its operational life. If such defects are widespread across equipment we have used in the construction of our facilities, we could suffer material outages or underperformance compared to expectations. Such
circumstances could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Adoption of custom firmware for our mining fleet could lead to failures that result in a substantial decrease in our mining fleet’s hashrate.
We may adopt custom firmware for our Bitmain mining fleet, which, if unsuccessfully implemented on a large scale, or if it does not operate as intended, could lead to failures and significantly impact our hashrate. There
is also the risk of potentially voiding mining hardware manufacturer warranties through use of custom firmware. While our trials with two alternate software providers have demonstrated some positive results on a small scale during our R&D
program, there is a possibility that custom firmware solutions may not perform as reliably or efficiently on a larger scale.
Technical issues, compatibility problems, exposure to malicious activities, or
unforeseen bugs could result in a substantial decrease in our mining fleet’s hashrate, leading to reduced rewards and revenue from Bitcoin mining.
Any disruption of service experienced by certain of our third-party service providers, the equipment they provide to us, or our ineffective management of relationships with
third-party service providers could harm our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows and prospects.
We rely on several third-party service providers for services that are essential to our business model, the most important of which are our suppliers of power, electrical equipment, building materials, specialist
maintenance services and construction services. Additionally, our business strategy includes exploring the potential diversification of our revenue sources. In particular, we have revitalized our strategy of exploring the potential diversification
into HPC solutions, as well as the development of other new products and services leveraging data center capacity and access to power. As we expand into any new markets and develop new solutions, we may also rely on third parties to supply us the
equipment which we then use to provide a service to potential customers. If these third parties experience difficulty in providing the services or products we require, or if they experience disruptions or financial distress or cease operations
temporarily or permanently, or if the products they supply are defective or cease to operate for any reason, it could make it difficult for us to execute our operations. If we are unsuccessful in identifying or finding highly qualified third-party
suppliers or service providers, if we fail to enter into suitable commercial arrangements with them, or if we fail to negotiate cost-effective relationships with them or if we are ineffective in managing and maintaining these relationships, it could
materially and adversely affect our business and our financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects.
Our mining hardware suppliers have previously had, and may continue to have, operations in China, and China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any
government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, international trade policies with China continue to be in flux, and a policy change could adversely affect our business, prospects or
operations.
Our mining hardware suppliers have previously had, and may continue to have, operations in China and a significant portion of our revenues may be derived from material produced in China. Accordingly, our business,
financial conditions, results of operations and prospects may be subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and legal developments in China.
The People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) government exercises significant control over China’s economy through allocations of resources, control over the incurrence and payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations,
setting of monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. The PRC legal system also continues to evolve rapidly, so interpretations of laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of
such laws, regulations and rules involve uncertainties. Uncertainties due to evolving laws and regulations could also impede the ability of a China-based company, such as Bitmain, to obtain or maintain permits or licenses required to conduct business
in China. Changes in any of these policies, laws and regulations, or the interpretations thereof, as they relate to the mining hardware suppliers, could have an adverse impact on our business.
For example, if the PRC government were to prevent mining hardware suppliers from doing business with companies who engage in Bitcoin-related activities, we would be required to find a replacement supplier for our
digital asset mining equipment. Certain companies may also decide to move their production of miners out of China and into other countries following the September 2021 blanket ban on digital asset mining and transactions by Chinese regulators. Such
interruptions in operations and production relocations could result in cancellations or delays and may adversely impact our ability to receive mining equipment on a timely basis or at all. Moreover, if we were unable to find a replacement supplier
able to meet our supply demands and promptly, it could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In China, it is illegal to accept payment in Bitcoin for consumer transactions and banking institutions are barred from accepting deposits of digital assets. The PRC government has also restricted digital asset
operations and transactions by banning digital asset mining activity. If the PRC government were to further restrict digital asset mining related activities, including production of materials used in such activities, and as are currently produced by
Bitmain, it would have a material adverse impact on Bitmain’s operations and in turn our business prospects.
In addition, international trade policies with China remain in flux, and changes to such policies may impact our supply chain. For example, the countries in which we operate could expand or impose, as applicable,
economic sanctions on China, or businesses operating in China, that would impact our ability to do business with and import from businesses that operate in China. Any such actions, or countermeasures taken by China, could materially impact our
business, prospects or operations.
Bitcoin miners and other necessary hardware are subject to malfunction, obsolescence and supply chain risks.
The Bitcoin mining industry has historically seen periodic improvements in the hardware technology used to mine Bitcoin. There is a risk that our current hardware will be superseded by more powerful technology, including
ASICs with a materially higher hashrate (relative to power consumption), which would make Bitcoin mining with our current hardware less commercially viable.
Similarly, our business strategy includes exploring the potential diversification of our revenue sources including potential HPC solutions, as well as aiming to develop new products and services leveraging our data
center capacity and access to power. Hardware required for any such new products and services is subject to similar risks. In particular, the rapid pace of technological advancements in HPC GPU hardware presents a risk of hardware obsolescence. As
newer and more efficient GPUs are continually developed, existing hardware may quickly become outdated, leading to reduced performance, compatibility issues with new software or systems, and potential difficulties in sourcing customers looking to
utilize the hardware. This can result in increased operational costs and may necessitate unexpected capital investment to upgrade hardware, hindering the ability to maintain competitive performance in compute-intensive applications. Further, if we
seek to update our existing hardware in response to significant improvements in available hardware technology or to replace underperforming or malfunctioning hardware, there is no guarantee that such technology will be available to us, available on
commercially acceptable terms, successfully implemented in our operations or achieve the expected operational performance.
Given the long production period to manufacture and assemble hardware and exposure to potential shortages in global semiconductor chip supply, there can be no assurance that we can acquire enough hardware or replacement
parts on a cost-effective basis, or at all, for the maintenance and expansion of our operations. In relation to hardware required for HPC solutions, demand for Nvidia GPUs and certain networking equipment currently far exceeds supply.
We rely on third parties to supply us with hardware and shortages of Bitcoin mining hardware, GPUs, networking equipment or their component parts, material increases in hardware costs or delays in delivery of our
hardware orders could significantly interrupt our plans for expanding and diversifying our business. We face competition in acquiring hardware from major manufacturers and, at a given time, hardware may only be available for pre-order months in
advance.
In relation to Bitcoin mining hardware, the lead time for new Bitcoin mining hardware from manufacturers currently varies from one to 12 months depending on a number of factors, including the manufacturer, type of
hardware and technology and market conditions. When mining conditions are favorable, the lead time usually increases from all suppliers and manufacturers in the industry and could exceed 12 months. If we are unable to acquire new mining machines, or
if our cost for new mining machines is excessively high, we may not be able to keep up with our competitors, which may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. In some periods the industry has experienced, and we expect
may experience again in the future, a scarcity of advanced mining machines, as few manufacturers are capable of producing a sufficient number of mining machines of adequate quality to meet demand. It is necessary for us to establish and maintain
relationships with mining machine manufacturers, and we may face competition from larger or other preferred customer relationships. As a result of intense competition for the latest generation mining machines, or if we unexpectedly need to replace
our mining machines due to a faulty shipment or other failure, we may not be able to secure replacement machines at a reasonable cost on a timely basis. The market pricing of digital asset mining equipment is subject to fluctuations that are
influenced by factors including, but not limited to, the price of Bitcoin, the global hashrate, as well as supply and demand for mining equipment. As a result, the cost of new machines has been and may in the future be unpredictable, and may also be
significantly higher than our historical cost for new miners.
Failure to secure appropriate hardware and/or technology may delay or prevent the timely completion of our growth strategies and anticipated increases in capacity, and may have a significant adverse impact on our results
from operations and delay our expansion plans.
Supply chain and logistics issues for us, our contractors or our suppliers may delay our expansion plans or increase the cost of constructing our infrastructure.
The equipment used in our operations is generally manufactured by third parties using a large amount of commodity inputs (for example, steel, copper, aluminum). Many manufacturing businesses globally are currently
experiencing supply chain issues and increased costs with respect to such commodities and other materials and labor used in their production processes, which is due to a complex array of factors including increased demand from the Bitcoin mining and
other industries, as well as the ongoing effects from COVID-19, and which can occur from time to time. Additionally, shortages in global semiconductor chip supply may impact procurement timelines for equipment. Such issues may cause delays in the
delivery of, or increases in the cost of, the equipment used in our operations, which could materially impact our operating results and may delay our expansion plans.
In addition, disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or future pandemics and public health crises, terrorist acts, and political or military conflict, such as the conflict in Ukraine, have increased the risks
and costs of doing business abroad. Many of the manufacturers of our equipment are located outside of the jurisdictions in which we have facilities and sites, necessitating international shipping to enable us to incorporate the equipment into our
facilities. Political and economic instability have caused many businesses to experience logistics issues in the past resulting in delayed deliveries of equipment, which could occur again in the future. Supply chain disruptions may also occur from
time to time due to a range of factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to, climate change, seasonal and unseasonal weather events, shipping constraints (for example, blocked shipping canals or closure of shipyards), increased costs of
labor, inflationary pressure, freight costs, industrial disputes and raw material prices along with a shortage of qualified workers. Such supply chain disruptions can potentially cause material impacts to our operating performance and financial
position if delivery of equipment for our facilities is delayed.
It may take significant time and expenditure to grow our Bitcoin mining operations and develop potential HPC
solutions through continued development at our existing and planned sites, and our efforts may not be successful.
The continued development of our existing and planned facilities is subject to various factors beyond our control. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (or any future pandemics), there is an elevated risk that the
delivery or installation of equipment from suppliers will be delayed, and of shortages in materials or labor due to travel restrictions and social distancing requirements. There is also the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak on site, which would halt
construction and operations in the short term.
More generally, there may be difficulties in integrating new equipment into existing infrastructure, constraints on our ability to connect to or procure the expected electricity supply capacity at our facilities, defects
in design, construction or installed equipment, diversion of management resources, insufficient funding or other resource constraints. Actual costs for development may exceed our planned budget. In particular, our business strategy includes exploring
the potential diversification of our revenue sources into new markets (such as HPC solutions), as well as the development of other new products and services leveraging our data center capacity and access to power. Our ability to execute on our HPC
solutions strategy could be challenging in our current data center designs and may require retrofits, alterations or other custom designed solutions to enable the operating environment to function for potential HPC solutions, which may be cost
prohibitive, if the operating environment or site is capable of doing so at all. For example, this may necessitate close collaboration with cooling experts, engineers and specialized vendors to ensure thermal management is aligned with specific
hardware requirements.
We intend to expand by acquiring and developing additional sites, taking into account a number of important characteristics such as availability of renewable energy, electrical infrastructure and related costs,
geographic location and the local regulatory environment. We may have difficulty finding sites that satisfy our requirements at a commercially viable price or our timing requirements. Furthermore, there may be significant competition for suitable
data center sites, and government regulators, including local permitting officials, may restrict our ability to set up data center operations in certain locations.
Transfer of sites that we have contractually secured may ultimately fail to complete due to factors beyond our control (for example, due to default or non-performance by counterparties). In addition, estimated power
availability at sites secured could be materially less than initially expected or not available at all. Furthermore, the ability to secure connection agreements to access such power sources and processes to secure permits, approvals and/or licenses
to construct and operate our facilities could be delayed in regulatory processes, may not be successful or may be cost prohibitive. For example, in December 2022, the Government of British Columbia announced a temporary 18-month suspension on new and
early-stage BC Hydro connection requests from cryptocurrency mining projects. While this suspension has not impacted our existing operations, this decision and future
decisions by Government regulators may reduce the availability and/or increase the cost of electricity in the geographic locations in which our operating facilities are located, or could otherwise adversely impact our business.
Development and construction delays, cost overruns, changes in market circumstances, environmental or community constraints, an inability to find suitable data center locations as part of our expansion and other factors
may adversely affect our operations, expansion plans, financial position and financial performance. We will continue to review our expansion plans in light of evolving market conditions. Any such delays, and any failure to increase our total data
center or hashrate capacity in the future, could adversely impact our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Our business is subject to customary risks in developing infrastructure projects.”
Cancellation or withdrawal of required operating and other permits and licenses could materially impact our operations and financial performance.
In each jurisdiction in which we operate, it is typical that we must obtain certain permits, approvals and/or licenses in order to construct and operate our facilities. If, for whatever reason, such permits, approvals
and/or licenses are not granted, or if they are lost, suspended, terminated or revoked, it may result in delays in construction of our facilities, require us to halt all or part of our operations, or cause us to be exposed to financial or other
penalties at the affected locations. Such circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, expansion plans, financial condition and operating results.
Our business is subject to customary risks in developing infrastructure projects.
The build-out of our platform is subject to customary risks relevant to developing greenfield and brownfield infrastructure projects, including:
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difficulty finding sites that satisfy our requirements at a commercially viable price;
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planning approval processes, and permitting and licensing requirements in certain jurisdictions;
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site condition risks (for example, geotechnical, environmental, flooding, seismic and archaeological) in developing greenfield and brownfield sites;
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obtaining easements and rights of way (for example, for access or transmission lines), if required;
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local community objections or feedback preventing or limiting permits and approvals, or a ‘social license’ to operate in the community;
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availability of power and the satisfactory outcome of relevant studies, as well as completion of the process to connect to the electrical grid and execution of connection agreements and electricity supply agreements with the relevant
entities, which may also be cost prohibitive;
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interface and operational risks;
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availability, timing of delivery, and cost of construction materials and equipment to each site;
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contracting and labor issues (i.e. industry-wide labor strikes, ability to engage experienced labor and contractors/subcontractors in remote areas, labor shortages due to competing demand);
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non-performance by contractors and sub-contractors impacting quality assurance and quality control;
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lack of interest from contractors or design builders and potential increase in project costs due to competing infrastructure development worldwide;
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severe or inclement weather;
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climate change;
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construction delays generally;
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delays or impacts arising from pandemics (for example, COVID-19);
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obtaining any required regulatory or other approvals to invest or own land and infrastructure in foreign jurisdictions; and
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availability of capital to fund construction activities and associated contractual commitments.
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We operate in a highly competitive industry and rapidly evolving sector.
The Bitcoin mining and HPC ecosystems are highly innovative, rapidly evolving and characterized by intense competition, experimentation and frequent introductions of new products and services, and are subject to
uncertain and evolving industry and regulatory requirements. We expect competition to increase in the future as existing competitors expand their operations, new competitors enter the industry, and new products are introduced or existing products are
enhanced. We compete against a number of companies operating globally that focus on mining digital assets and/or HPC.
Our existing and potential competitors may have various competitive advantages over us, such as:
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greater name recognition, longer operating histories and larger market shares;
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more established marketing, banking and compliance relationships;
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greater mining or data center capabilities (for example, through adoption of proprietary technology);
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more developed sales and customer management capabilities;
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more timely introduction of new technologies;
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preferred relationships with suppliers, including of mining machines and other equipment;
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better access to more competitively priced power;
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greater financial resources and access to capital to acquire new hardware, businesses, capabilities and enable growth;
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lower labor, compliance, risk mitigation and research and development costs;
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larger and more mature intellectual property portfolios;
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greater number of applicable licenses or similar authorizations;
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established core business models outside of the mining or trading of digital assets, allowing them to operate on lesser margins or at a loss;
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operations in certain jurisdictions with lower compliance costs and greater flexibility to explore new product offerings; and
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substantially greater financial, technical and other resources.
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If we are unable to compete successfully, or if competing successfully requires us to take costly actions in response to the actions of our competitors, our business, operating results and financial condition could be
adversely affected.
We cannot provide any assurance that we will successfully identify all emerging trends and growth opportunities in the industries we operate in and we may fail to capitalize on certain important business and market
opportunities. Such circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
COVID-19 or any pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease in any country in which we operate, and any governmental or industry measures taken in response to COVID-19
or any other such infectious disease, may adversely impact our operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had unpredictable and unprecedented impacts in Australia, Canada, the United States and nearly every other country in the world. COVID-19 has affected how we are operating our business,
including as a result of government public health orders and travel restrictions. The re-introduction of such measures could adversely impact our business and results of operations, including cash flows. The duration and extent to which these
measures may continue to impact us remain uncertain, and may prove difficult to assess or predict, particularly over the medium to longer term.
The nature and extent of the effect of COVID-19 on our financial performance, particularly in the longer term, is unknown. The continued uncertainty, as well as a likelihood of an economic downturn of unknown duration or
severity in certain jurisdictions key to our business, means that we may be unable to accurately forecast our operating costs or financial performance.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, governments (at national, provincial and local levels), corporations and other authorities may continue to implement restrictions or policies that could adversely affect global capital
markets, the global economy, Bitcoin prices and our Ordinary share price.
We continue to assess any effect on our business from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and any actions implemented by the governments in jurisdictions in which we operate. We have implemented safety protocols to protect our
personnel, but we cannot offer any assurance that the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease in Australia, Canada, the United States or elsewhere, will not materially and adversely affect our business.
The loss of any of our management team or an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel could adversely affect our operations, strategy and business.
We operate in a competitive and specialized industry where our continued success is in part dependent upon our ability to attract and retain skilled and qualified personnel. A loss of a significant number of our skilled
and experienced employees or, alternatively, difficulty in attracting additional adequately skilled and experienced employees, may adversely impact our operations and financial performance.
The employment contracts of certain of our employees contain non-competition and non-solicitation provisions designed to limit the impact of employees departing the business by restricting their ability to obtain
employment with our competitors. Such provisions may not be enforceable, may only be partially enforceable, or may not be enforced, which could impede our ability to protect our business interests.
Additionally, our ability to successfully execute on our growth strategies, including our strategy of exploring the potential diversification of our revenue sources, such as HPC solutions, and offering new products and
services, will depend on our ability to identify, hire, train and retain qualified employees with the right mix of skills to build and maintain relationships with customers and who can provide the technical, strategic, and marketing skills required
to develop HPC solutions we may offer and any other new products and services we may seek to develop. There is a shortage of qualified personnel in some of these fields, and we will be competing with other companies for this limited pool of potential
employees. There is no assurance that we will be able to recruit or retain qualified personnel, and this failure could negatively impact our ability to develop and deliver new services to the market.
The potential acquisition of businesses, services or technologies may not be successful or may adversely affect our existing operations.
In the future, we may seek to acquire businesses, services or technologies that we believe could complement or expand our current business, enhance our technical capabilities or otherwise offer growth opportunities. We
may not be successful in identifying and acquiring suitable acquisition targets at an acceptable cost. Further, the pursuit of potential acquisitions may divert the attention of management and cause us to incur various expenses in identifying,
investigating and pursuing suitable acquisitions, regardless of whether or not they are ultimately completed.
If we acquire additional businesses, we may not be able to integrate the acquired personnel, operations and technologies successfully, or effectively manage the combined business following the acquisition. We also may
not achieve the anticipated synergies, strategic advantages or earnings from the acquired business due to a number of factors, including:
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incurrence of acquisition-related costs;
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unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with the acquisition;
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the potential loss of key employees of the target business;
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use of resources that are needed in other parts of our business; and
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use of substantial portions of our available cash to complete the acquisition.
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Acquisitions may also result in dilutive issuances of equity securities, including our Ordinary Shares, or the incurrence of debt. The amount of any equity securities issued in connection with an investment or
acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding Ordinary shares. Any issuance of additional securities in connection with investments or acquisitions may result in additional dilution to you, which could adversely affect the
trading price of our Ordinary shares. In addition, if an acquired business fails to meet expectations, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
Further, as we may settle acquisitions in new industries and new geographic regions, there is a risk that we may not fully comply with laws, regulations, business operations or risks associated with these industries or
regions. There is a risk that we could face legal, tax or regulatory sanctions or reputational damage as a result of any failure to comply with (or comply with developing interpretations of) applicable laws, regulations and standards of good
practice. Our failure to comply with such laws, regulations and standards could result in fines or penalties, the payment of compensation or the cancellation or suspension of our ability to carry on certain activities or service offerings, interrupt
or adversely affect parts of our business and may have an adverse effect on our operations and financial performance.
We may be vulnerable to climate change, severe weather conditions and natural and man-made disasters, including earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and severe storms
(including impacts from rain, hail, snow, lightning and wind), as well as power outages and other industrial incidents, which could severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our business may be subject to the risks of climate change, severe weather conditions and natural and man- made disasters, including earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and severe storms (including impacts
from rain, hail, snow, lightning and wind), as well as power outages and other industrial incidents, any of which could result in system failures, damage to equipment, power supply disruptions and other interruptions that could harm our business.
The potential physical impacts of climate change on our properties and operations are highly uncertain and would be particular to the geographic circumstances in areas in which we operate. These may include changes in
rainfall and storm patterns and intensities, water shortages, changing sea levels and changing temperatures. Natural disasters may become more frequent, such as the 2023 British Columbia wildfires, which combined have burned a record-breaking land
area in the region. The increased prevalence of natural disasters and other impacts attributable to climate change may materially and adversely impact the cost of production, operational efficiency and financial performance of our operations.
Further, any impacts to our business and financial condition as a result of climate change are likely to occur over a sustained period of time and are therefore difficult to quantify with any degree of specificity. For example, extreme weather events
may result in adverse physical effects on portions of our infrastructure, which could impact the operational efficiency of our assets or disrupt our supply chain and ultimately our business operations. In addition, disruption of transportation, power
and distribution systems could result in delays to potential expansion plans, additional costs or reduced operational efficiency.
The reliability and operating efficiency of our ASICs and other equipment is linked to weather conditions, including temperature and humidity. If we are unable to appropriately manage climatic conditions for the
operating equipment inside our data centers, whether caused by either long or short term variations in weather conditions outside of optimal operating thresholds or as a result of ventilation equipment failure, our ASICs and other equipment may be
subject to reduced operating efficiency, increased equipment failure and higher maintenance costs. More severe or sustained climate related events have the potential to disrupt our business and may cause us to experience higher attrition, losses and
additional costs to resume operations.
Our current insurance policies cover certain costs due to loss of property but do not include business interruption insurance sufficient to compensate for the lost profits that may result from interruptions in our
operations as a result of inability to operate or failures of equipment and infrastructure at our facilities. A system outage could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Our properties may experience damages, including damages that are not covered by insurance.
Our current and planned operations, and any other future sites we establish (including during the construction phase), will be subject to a variety of risks relating to physical condition and operation, including but not
limited to:
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the presence of construction or repair defects or other structural or building damage;
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any noncompliance with, or liabilities under, applicable regulations, including but not limited to, environmental, health or safety regulations or requirements of building codes, permits and zoning requirements;
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any damage resulting from climate change, extreme weather conditions or natural or man-made disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms (including impacts from rain, snow, hail, lightning and wind),
or extreme cold or hot weather; and
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claims by employees and/or others for injuries sustained at our properties.
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We currently maintain insurance coverage in respect of our property and personal injury claims and may decide to obtain additional coverage in the future, such as business interruption insurance, where doing so would be
practicable and in line with industry practice. There can be no assurance that adequate insurance will be available, and, even if available, that such insurance will be available at economically acceptable premiums or will be adequate to cover any
claims made, or that we will decide to take out coverage. We do not carry any environmental insurance. If we incur uninsured losses or liabilities, our assets, profits and/or prospects may be materially impacted. The occurrence of an event that is
not covered, in full or in part, by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial position and financial performance.
We may be affected by price fluctuations in the wholesale and retail power markets.
Our power arrangements may vary depending on the markets in which we operate, and comprise fixed and variable power prices, including arrangements that may contain price adjustment mechanisms in case of certain events.
Furthermore, some portion of our power arrangements may be priced by reference to published index prices and, thus, reflect market movements outside of our control.
A substantial increase in electricity costs could render Bitcoin mining or HPC solutions we may offer ineffective or not viable for us. Market prices for power, generation capacity and ancillary services are
unpredictable. An increase in market prices for power, generation capacity or ancillary services may adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results. Long-term and short-term power prices may fluctuate
substantially due to a variety of factors outside of our control, including, but not limited to:
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increases and decreases in the quantity and type of generation capacity;
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changes in network charges;
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fuel costs;
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commodity prices;
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new generation technologies;
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changes in power transmission constraints or inefficiencies;
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climate change and volatile weather conditions, particularly unusually hot or mild summers or unusually cold or warm winters, including the impacts of such on the demand or power;
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technological shifts resulting in changes in the demand for power or in patterns of power usage, including the potential development of demand-side management tools, expansion and technological advancements in power storage capability and
the development of new fuels or new technologies for the production or storage of power;
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federal, state, local and foreign power, market and environmental policy, regulation and legislation;
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changes in capacity prices and capacity markets; and
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power market structure (for example, energy-only versus energy and capacity markets).
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See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Any electricity outage, non-supply or limitation of electricity supply or increase in electricity costs could materially impact our operations and
financial performance.”
We may fail to anticipate or adapt to technology innovations in a timely manner, or at all.
The digital asset, data center and HPC solutions markets are experiencing rapid technological changes. Failure to anticipate technology innovations or adapt to such innovations in a timely manner, or at all, may result
in our current and future capabilities becoming obsolete. The process of developing and marketing new products, services, solutions or capabilities is inherently complex and involves significant uncertainties. There are a number of risks, including
the following:
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our product or service planning efforts may fail in resulting in the development or commercialization of new technologies or ideas;
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our research and development efforts may fail to translate new product plans into commercially feasible solutions;
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our new products or solutions (including HPC solutions we may offer) may not be well received by consumers or otherwise may fail to achieve their intended purpose or functionality;
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we may not have adequate funding and resources necessary for continual investments in product planning and research and development; and
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our products or solutions may become obsolete due to rapid advancements in technology and changes in consumer preferences.
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Any failure to anticipate the next generation technology roadmap or changes in customer preferences or to timely develop new or enhanced products in response could result in decreased revenue and market share.
Risks Related to Bitcoin
The transition of digital asset networks such as Bitcoin from proof-of-work mining algorithms to proof-of-stake validation may significantly impact the value of our capital
expenditures and investments in machines and real property to support proof-of-work mining, which could make us less competitive and ultimately adversely affect our business and the value of our Ordinary shares.
Proof-of-stake is an alternative method of validating digital asset transactions. Proof-of-stake methodology does not rely on resource intensive calculations to validate transactions and create new blocks in a
blockchain; instead, the validator of the next block is determined, sometimes randomly, based on a methodology in the blockchain software. Rewards, and sometimes penalties, are issued based on the amount of digital assets a user has “staked” in order
to become a validator.
Our business strategy currently focuses on mining Bitcoin (as opposed to other digital assets). Additionally, all of our mining hardware is limited to mining using a “proof-of-work” protocol based on the complex
cryptographic algorithm known as Secure Hash Algorithm 256 (“SHA-256”). Should Bitcoin, like certain other digital asset networks did in calendar year 2022, shift from a proof-of-work validation method to a proof-of-stake method, the transaction
verification process (i.e. “mining” or “validating”) would require less power and may render any company that maintains advantages in the current climate with respect to proof-of-work mining (for example, from lower-priced electricity, processing,
computing power, real estate, or hosting) less competitive or less profitable, including ours. For example, the Ethereum blockchain, another popular blockchain with a widely traded digital asset, completed its transition from proof-of-work to
proof-of-stake in September 2022, in part to achieve more efficiency in relation to the energy consumption of its network and production and verification of its blockchain. Large numbers of Ethereum mining equipment and other investments in Ethereum
mining operations became obsolete, while a minority of Ethereum mining equipment was repurposed for mining other digital assets, which were less profitable. Additionally, the successful Ethereum transition to proof-of-stake could lead to pressure on
Bitcoin to also transition to proof-of-stake.
If Bitcoin shifts to proof-of-stake validation, we may lose the benefit of our capital investments and their competitive advantage, which were intended to improve the efficiency of our digital asset mining operations
only with respect to proof-of-work networks. Further, a shift in market demand from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake protocols could impair our business and operations which are based on hardware that is strictly limited to mining digital assets based
on SHA-256 algorithm. Such events could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue as a going concern or to pursue our business strategy at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition
and operating results.
There is a risk of additional Bitcoin mining capacity from competing Bitcoin miners, which would increase the global hashrate and decrease our effective market share.
The barriers to entry for new Bitcoin miners are relatively low, which can give rise to additional capacity from competing Bitcoin miners. The Bitcoin protocol responds to increasing global hashrate by increasing the
“difficulty” of Bitcoin mining. If this “difficulty” increases at a significantly higher rate, we would need to increase our hashrate at the same rate in order to maintain market share and generate equivalent block rewards. A decrease in our
effective market share would result in a reduction in our share of block rewards and transaction fees, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and financial position.
Furthermore, foreign governments may decide to subsidize or in some other way support certain large-scale Bitcoin mining projects, thus adding hashrate to the overall network. Such circumstances could have a material
adverse effect on the amount of Bitcoin we may be able to mine, the value of Bitcoin and any other digital assets we may potentially acquire or hold in the future and, consequently, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Bitcoin is a form of technology which may become redundant or obsolete in the future.
Bitcoin currently holds a “first-to-market” advantage over other digital assets and is currently the market leader, in terms of value and recognition, in the digital assets market. This first-to-market advantage is
driven in large part by having the largest user base and, more importantly, the largest combined mining power in use to secure the Bitcoin network. It is generally understood that having more users and miners makes a digital asset more useful and
secure, which makes it more attractive and valuable to new users and miners, resulting in a network effect that strengthens this first-to-market advantage. Despite the current first-to-market advantage of the Bitcoin network over other digital asset
networks, the digital asset market continues to grow rapidly as the value of existing digital assets rises, new digital assets enter the market and demand for digital assets increases. Therefore, it is possible that another digital asset could become
comparatively more popular than Bitcoin in the future. If an alternative digital asset obtains significant market share-either in market capitalization, mining power, use as a payment technology or use as a store of value-this could reduce Bitcoin’s
market share and value. All of our mining revenue is derived from mining Bitcoin and, while we could potentially consider mining other digital assets in the future, doing so may result in significant costs. For example, our ASICs are principally
utilized for mining Bitcoin and cannot mine other digital assets that are not based on SHA-256. As a result, the emergence of a digital asset that erodes Bitcoin’s market share and value could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The utilization of a digital asset technology is influenced by public acceptance and confidence in its integrity and potential application, and if public acceptance or confidence is lost for any reason (for example, as a
result of hacking or demand for greater power efficiency), the use of that technology may become less attractive, with users instead utilizing alternative digital assets. If preferences in the digital assets markets shift away from proof-of work
networks such as Bitcoin, or the market otherwise adopts new digital assets, this could result in a significant reduction in the value of Bitcoin, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects or operations, including the
value of the Bitcoin that we mine or otherwise acquire or hold for our own account.
There is a lack of liquid markets in digital assets, and these markets are subject to possible manipulation.
Digital assets do not trade on traditional exchanges.
Whereas stock exchanges have rules and regulations regarding marketplace conduct, and monitor investors transacting on such platform for fraud and other improprieties, digital assets trade on digital asset trading
platforms, on “decentralized” finance trading platforms directly on blockchains networks, or over the counter.
These stock exchange rules and regulations may not necessarily be replicated on digital assets trading platforms, depending on the platform’s controls and other policies, and transactions that take place on digital asset
networks or otherwise not on centralized digital asset trading platforms are difficult to control or regulate and may be subject to manipulation. Although some digital assets trading platforms are subject to regulation and monitor for illegal
activity, because the Bitcoin market itself is unregulated, there are few means to prevent manipulation of prices for the overall market. These factors may decrease liquidity or volume or may otherwise increase volatility of Bitcoin, which may have a
material adverse effect on our ability to monetize the Bitcoin we mine.
If a malicious actor or botnet obtains control of more than 50% of the processing power on the Bitcoin blockchain, such actor or botnet could manipulate the Bitcoin blockchain,
which would adversely affect your investment in us or our ability to operate.
If a malicious actor or botnet (a volunteer or hacked collection of computers controlled by networked software coordinating the actions of the computers) obtains a majority of the processing power dedicated to mining a
digital asset, it may be able to alter the digital asset network or blockchain on which transactions of the digital asset are recorded by constructing fraudulent blocks or preventing certain transactions from completing in a timely manner, or at all.
The malicious actor or botnet could control, exclude or modify the ordering of transactions, though it could not generate new coins or transactions using such control. The malicious actor could “double-spend” its own digital asset (i.e. spend the
same Bitcoin in more than one transaction) and prevent the confirmation of other users’ transactions for as long as it maintained control. To the extent that such malicious actor or botnet does not yield its control of the processing power on the
network or the digital asset community does not reject the fraudulent blocks as malicious, reversing any changes made to the effected digital asset network may not be possible. Bitcoin and other digital asset networks may be vulnerable to other
network-level attacks, non-exhaustive examples of which include miners colluding to: (i) cease validating transactions to effectively halt the network, (ii) mine only “empty” blocks (i.e. blocks with no transactions), thus censoring all transactions,
(iii) “reorganize the chain” which would revert transactions made over some time period, removing previously confirmed transactions from the blockchain or (iv) execute a “doublespend” attack, which involves erasing specific transactions from the
blockchain by replacing the blocks in question.
A large amount of mining activity is physically located in emerging markets. If a nation state or other large and well-capitalized entity wanted to damage the Bitcoin network or other proof-of-work digital asset
networks, the entity could attempt to create, either from scratch, via large-scale purchases or potentially seizure, a significant amount of mining processing power.
Although there are no known reports of malicious activity or control of the blockchain achieved through controlling over 50% of the processing power on the network, it is believed that certain mining pools may have
exceeded the 50% threshold in Bitcoin. The possible crossing of the 50% threshold indicates a greater risk that a single mining pool could exert authority over the validation of Bitcoin transactions. This could occur, for example, if transaction fees
are not sufficiently high to make up for the scheduled decreases in the reward of new Bitcoin for solving blocks. In that situation, miners may not have an adequate incentive to continue mining and may cease their mining operations. The fewer miners
on the network, the easier it will be for a malicious actor to obtain control in excess of 50% of the aggregate hashrate on the Bitcoin network.
Any such attack or manipulation as outlined above of the Bitcoin network or another important digital asset network could directly impact the value of any Bitcoin that we own at that point in time or render our hardware
incapable of earning Bitcoin through block rewards, adversely impacting our financial position. Further, such an event may cause a loss of faith in the security of the network, which could materially erode Bitcoin’s market share and value and could
have a material adverse effect on our business.
Significant increases or decreases in transaction fees could lead to loss of confidence in the Bitcoin network, which could adversely impact our ability to mine Bitcoin and to
monetize the Bitcoin we mine.
If the rewards and fees paid for maintenance of a digital asset network are not sufficiently high to incentivize miners, miners may respond in a way that reduces confidence in the network. Bitcoin miners collect fees
from transactions that are confirmed. Miners validate unconfirmed transactions by adding the previously unconfirmed transactions to new blocks in the blockchain. Miners are not forced to confirm any specific transaction, but they are economically
incentivized to confirm valid transactions as a means of collecting fees. To the extent that any miners cease to record transactions in solved blocks, such transactions will not be recorded on the blockchain. Historically, miners have accepted
relatively low transaction fees and have not typically elected to exclude the recording of low-fee transactions in solved blocks; however, to the extent that any such incentives arise (for example, a collective movement among miners or one or more
mining pools to reject low transaction fees), recording and confirmation of transactions on the blockchain could be delayed, resulting in a lack of confidence in Bitcoin. Alternatively, these incentives could result in higher transaction fees
overall, which could lead to fewer uses for the Bitcoin network. For example, users will be less willing to use the Bitcoin network for applications such as micropayments if transaction fees are too high.
Overcapacity (that is, too many transactions being transmitted to the network at once) could also result in increased transaction fees and increased transaction settlement times. Bitcoin transaction fees were, on average
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, approximately $2.59 per transaction; however, Bitcoin transaction fees reached an average daily high of $7.74 per transaction in May 2023 due to elevated demand for block space largely driven by the creation
of non-fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain using the BRC-20 protocol. While it is possible that increased transaction fees could result in more revenue for our business, increased fees and decreased settlement speeds could preclude certain uses
for Bitcoin (for example, micropayments), and could reduce demand for, and the price of, Bitcoin, which could adversely affect our business.
We may not be able to realize the benefits of forks, and forks in the Bitcoin network may occur in the future that may affect our operations and financial performance.
The future development and growth of Bitcoin is subject to a variety of factors that are difficult to predict and evaluate. As Bitcoin is built on an open-source protocol without a centralized governing authority, there
is a possibility Bitcoin develops in ways which are not foreseeable. An example is modification of the Bitcoin protocol by a sufficient number of users (known as a “fork” or, when the modification renders nodes unable to communicate with the previous
version of the protocol, a “hard fork”).
The Bitcoin protocol has been subject to “hard forks” that resulted in the creation of new networks, and some of those new networks have since been subject to their own hard forks, including Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Cash
SV, Bitcoin Diamond, Bitcoin Gold and others. Some of these forks have caused fragmentation among trading platforms as to the correct naming convention for the forked digital assets. Due to the lack of a central registry or rulemaking body, no single
entity has the ability to dictate the nomenclature of forked digital assets, causing disagreements and a lack of uniformity among platforms on the nomenclature of forked digital assets, which results in further confusion to individuals as to the
nature of assets they hold on digital asset trading platforms. In addition, several of these forks were contentious and, as a result, participants in certain digital asset user and developer communities may harbor ill will toward other communities.
As a result, certain community members may take actions that adversely impact the use, adoption and price of Bitcoin or any of its forked alternatives.
Furthermore, hard forks can lead to new security concerns. For instance, when the Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin Cash SV network split in November 2018, “replay” attacks, in which transactions from one network were rebroadcast
on the other network to achieve “double-spending,” plagued platforms that traded Bitcoin, resulting in significant losses to some digital asset trading platforms. Another possible result of a hard fork is an inherent decrease in the level of security
due to the splitting of some mining power across networks, making it easier for a malicious actor to exceed 50% of the mining power of that network, thereby making digital asset networks that rely on proof-of-work more susceptible to attack in the
wake of a fork.
Historically, speculation over a new “fork” in the Bitcoin protocol has resulted in Bitcoin price volatility and future forks may occur at any time. A fork can lead to a disruption of networks and our IT systems could be
affected by cybersecurity attacks, replay attacks or security weaknesses, any of which can further lead to temporary or even permanent loss of our assets. Such disruption and loss could cause us to be exposed to liability, even in circumstances where
we have no intention of supporting an asset compromised by a fork. Additionally, a fork may result in a scenario where users running the previous protocol will not recognize blocks created by those running the new protocol, and vice versa. This may
render our Bitcoin mining hardware incompatible with the new Bitcoin protocol. Such changes may have a material effect on our operations, financial position and financial performance.
Digital asset trading platforms for Bitcoin may be subject to varying levels of regulation, which exposes our digital asset holdings to risks.
Platforms on which digital assets may trade, such as Kraken, which we have used to monetize our Bitcoin, pose special risks, as these platforms are generally new and the rules governing their activities are less settled
and their activities may be largely unregulated or under-regulated, and may therefore be more exposed to theft, fraud and failure than established, regulated exchanges for other products. Digital asset trading platforms may be startup businesses with
limited institutional backing, limited operating history, and no publicly available financial information. This can lead to increased price volatility. In addition, a failure of an important digital asset trading platform could result in a loss of
confidence in digital assets generally, resulting in our inability to monetize the Bitcoin we mine in accordance with our financial projections.
Bitcoin transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain do not rely on a trusted intermediary or depository institution. Transacting in Bitcoin on trading platforms requires users to take on credit risk by transferring Bitcoin
from a personal address to a Bitcoin address controlled by the trading platform. Accordingly, we are exposed to the digital asset trading platform’s credit risk with respect to each Bitcoin transaction we make because our Bitcoin sales take place on
digital asset trading platforms, not directly on the Bitcoin network. Digital asset trading platforms may also impose daily, weekly, monthly or customer-specific transaction or distribution limits or suspend withdrawals entirely, rendering the
exchange of digital assets for fiat currency difficult or impossible. Additionally, digital asset prices and valuations on these platforms may be volatile and subject to influence by many factors, including the levels of liquidity on particular
platforms and operational interruptions and disruptions. The prices and valuation of digital assets (for example, Bitcoin) remain subject to any volatility experienced by trading platforms, and any such volatility can adversely affect the value of
the Bitcoin that we mine. It is possible that while engaging in transactions with various digital asset platforms located throughout the world, any such platform may cease operations voluntarily or involuntarily due to theft, fraud, security breach,
liquidity issues or government investigation without any recourse available to us.
Digital asset platforms for Bitcoin may be appealing targets for cybercrime, hackers and malware and some have been shut down or experienced losses of assets placed on the exchange as a result, and any such event is
likely to result in the complete loss of assets placed on such a platform. In addition, any governmental or regulatory action against a digital asset trading platform may cause assets on such exchange to become frozen for a substantial period of time
or forfeited and could result in material opportunity costs or even in the total loss of such assets. Banks have also refused to process or support wire transfers to or from digital asset trading platforms and may continue to do so in a way that
impacts our ability to monetize Bitcoin we mine.
There are a limited number of digital asset trading platforms for Bitcoin in operation, and many operate in jurisdictions outside of the United States. Trading on digital asset platforms outside of the United States may
involve certain risks not applicable to trading on digital asset exchanges that operate in the United States. Foreign markets may be subject to instability, lack of regulation, temporary closures due to fraud, business failure, local capital
requirements or government-mandated regulations. Digital asset platforms located outside the United States may not be subject to regulatory, investigative or prosecutorial authority through which an action or complaint regarding missing or stolen
digital assets may be brought. Additionally, due to a lack of globally consistent treatment and regulation of digital assets, certain platforms located outside the United States may not be currently available to, or may in the future become
unavailable to, certain persons or entities based on their country of domicile, including the United States.
While we perform diligence on our counterparties and any digital asset trading platforms that we may use, it may be difficult, or even impossible, to sufficiently verify the ultimate ownership and control of a digital
asset trading platform and other information for evaluating the risks associated with such a counterparty or platform. Any of our digital assets that reside on a trading platform that shuts down may be permanently unrecoverable, misapplied or
otherwise lost. Additionally, to the extent that the digital asset platforms representing a substantial portion of the trading volume in a particular digital asset are involved in fraud or experience security failures or other operational issues,
such failures may result in loss or less favorable prices of the digital assets, which may adversely affect our business and results of operations, and consequently, an investment in our Ordinary shares.
We may face risks of internet disruptions, which could have an adverse effect on both the price of Bitcoin and our ability to operate our business.
The Bitcoin network, and our business of mining Bitcoin, are dependent upon the internet. A significant disruption in internet connectivity could disrupt the Bitcoin network’s operations, which could have an adverse
effect on the price of Bitcoin and our ability to mine Bitcoin. A broadly accepted and widely adopted decentralized network is necessary for the Bitcoin network to function as intended. Features of the Bitcoin network, such as decentralization,
open-source protocol and reliance on peer-to-peer connectivity, are essential to preserve the stability of the Bitcoin network and decrease the risk of fraud or cyberattacks. A disruption of the internet or the Bitcoin network could affect the
ability to transfer Bitcoin, and consequently the value of Bitcoin, as well as our ability to mine Bitcoin. A significant disruption of internet connectivity (for example, affecting large numbers of users or geographic regions) could prevent the
Bitcoin network’s functionality and operations until the internet disruption is resolved.
A disruption of the internet may affect the functioning of the Bitcoin network and the use of Bitcoin and subsequently the value of our Ordinary shares.
The impact of geopolitical and economic events on the supply and demand for digital assets is uncertain.
Geopolitical crises may motivate large-scale purchases of Bitcoin and other digital assets, which could increase the price of Bitcoin and other digital assets rapidly. This may increase the likelihood of a subsequent
price decrease as crisis-driven purchasing behavior dissipates, adversely affecting the value of our holdings following such downward adjustment. Such risks are similar to the risks of purchasing commodities in general in uncertain times, such as the
risk of purchasing, holding or selling gold. Alternatively, as an emerging asset class with limited acceptance as a payment system or commodity, global crises and general economic downturn may discourage investment in digital assets as investors
focus their investment on less volatile asset classes as a means of hedging their investment risk.
As an alternative to fiat currencies or CBDCs that are backed by central governments, most digital assets, which are a relatively new type of asset, are subject to supply and demand forces. How such supply and demand
will be impacted by geopolitical events is largely uncertain but could be harmful to us and investors in our Ordinary shares. Political or economic crises may motivate large-scale acquisitions or sales of digital assets either globally or locally.
There has been high volatility in the market price of Bitcoin and other digital assets, and in calendar year 2022, there was a significant downturn in their market price, as well as the market price of many technology stocks, including ours. Such
events could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue as a going concern or to pursue our strategy at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects or operations and potentially the value of any Bitcoin
or any other digital assets we mine.
Our operations, investment strategies and profitability may be adversely affected by competition from other methods of investing in digital assets or tracking digital asset
markets.
We compete with other users and/or companies that are mining Bitcoin and other digital assets and other potential financial vehicles that seek to provide exposure to digital asset prices, including securities backed by,
or linked to, digital assets. Market and financial conditions, and other conditions beyond our control, may make it more attractive to invest in other financial vehicles, or to invest in digital assets directly, which could limit the market for our
Ordinary shares and reduce their liquidity. In addition, the emergence of other financial vehicles and exchange-traded funds that provide exposure to digital asset prices have been scrutinized by regulators and such scrutiny and the negative
impressions or conclusions resulting from such scrutiny could be applied to our business and impact our ability to successfully pursue our strategy or operate at all, or maintain a public market for our Ordinary shares.
The global market for Bitcoin and other digital assets is generally characterized by supply constraints that may differ from those present in the markets for commodities or other assets such as gold and silver. The
mathematical protocols under which certain digital assets are mined permit the creation of a limited, predetermined amount of currency, while others have no limit established on total supply. To the extent that other vehicles investing in digital
assets or tracking digital asset markets form and come to represent a significant proportion of the demand for digital assets, large redemptions of the securities of those vehicles and the subsequent sale of Bitcoin by such vehicles could adversely
affect Bitcoin prices and therefore affect the value of any Bitcoin inventory we hold.
There has also been a growing number of attempts to list on national securities exchanges the shares of funds that hold Bitcoin and other digital assets or that have exposures to Bitcoin and other digital assets through
derivatives, such as Bitcoin-based exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). These investment vehicles attempt to provide institutional and retail investors exposure to markets for digital assets and related products. To date, the SEC has repeatedly denied
applications for spot Bitcoin ETFs. The exchange-listing of shares of a spot Bitcoin ETF or other digital asset-based funds would create more opportunities for institutional and retail investors to invest more directly in Bitcoin or other digital
assets that may be more attractive than an investment in our Ordinary shares, and consequently, have an adverse impact on the price of our Ordinary shares. Conversely, if exchange-listing requests for spot Bitcoin ETFs are not approved by the SEC and
further requests are ultimately denied by the SEC, increased investment interest by institutional or retail investors could fail to materialize, which could reduce the demand for digital assets generally and therefore adversely affect the price of
our Ordinary shares.
Such circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue as a going concern or to pursue our strategy at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects or operations
and potentially the value of any Bitcoin we mine or otherwise acquire or hold for our own account, and harm investors in our Ordinary shares.
Our reliance on third-party mining pool service providers may have an adverse impact on our business.
We are a participant in third-party mining pools. Mining pools allow miners to combine their processing power, increasing their odds of the aggregated processing power solving a block and earning block rewards and
transaction fees. Mining pools also provide ancillary services such as dashboard and other monitoring software. The rewards earned by mining pools are collected by the pool operator, which then rewards each miner in the pool proportionally to a
miner’s contributed hashrate.
We currently use Antpool as our main mining pool service provider and we are subject to Antpool’s User Service Agreement. There is no prescribed term for services under the User Service Agreement and Antpool reserves the
right to limit, change, suspend or terminate all or part of its services to us at any time. Similarly, we also have the right to terminate our use of Antpool’s services at any time. If we were unable to use Antpool’s mining pool in the future,
whether it be voluntary or involuntary reasons (including technical issues requiring a temporary or long-term switch between mining pool operators), we have identified F2Pool as a potential back-up mining pool service provider. Under the material
terms of F2Pool’s terms of service, a user can terminate their account at any time and F2Pool may, at its sole discretion, also terminate a user’s account at any time and would not be liable for any losses caused by such termination or suspension. We
may use the services of other mining pools in the future.
Due to the competitiveness of the global mining pool industry, we believe that we will be able to promptly access alternative mining pools, if required. Nevertheless, if Antpool, or another pool operator that we rely on,
suffers downtime due to a cyberattack, software malfunction or other similar issue, terminates our use of the mining pool, or ceases operations entirely due to increased regulatory restrictions, it will adversely impact our ability to mine and
receive revenue. Furthermore, we are dependent on the accuracy of the mining pool operator’s record keeping to accurately calculate the network’s statistically expected reward for our hashrate, and the global average transaction fees revenue per
block. While we may have internal methods of tracking both the hashrate we provide and the network’s statistically expected reward for that hashrate, the mining pool operator uses its own record-keeping to determine our reward. We may have little
means of recourse against the mining pool operator if we fail to receive a payout or if we determine the calculation of the reward paid out to us by the mining pool operator is incorrect, other than by leaving the pool. If we are unable to
consistently obtain accurate rewards from our mining pool operators, we may experience reduced revenue for these efforts compared to our expectations, which would have an adverse effect on our business and operations.
In addition, our mining rewards are temporarily held by the operator of the pool until they are distributed to us. During this time, digital assets held by the pool operator may be subject to risk of loss due to theft or
loss of private keys, among other things, and distributions of such digital assets from the pool operator to its custodian or other wallets may be intercepted by malicious actors.
If the pool operator ceases to provide services, whether related to a cyberattack, software malfunction or other similar issue, ceases operations entirely due to increased regulatory restrictions or discovers a shortfall
in the Bitcoin held by the pool, the revenue that we generated from the pool may never be paid to us, and we may have little means of recourse against the mining pool operator. Even if we joined a different mining pool, there is a risk of short-term
impact on our financial performance in making that transition, and a new mining pool would hold similar or additional risks.
Bitcoin will be subject to block reward halving several times in the future and Bitcoin’s value may not adjust to compensate us for the reduction in the block rewards that we
receive from our mining activities.
Halving is the process designed to control the overall supply and reduce the risk of inflation in Bitcoin’s proof-of-work consensus algorithm. At a predetermined block, the mining reward is halved. The Bitcoin block
reward was initially set at 50 Bitcoin per mined block and this was halved to 25 Bitcoin in November 2012 at block 210,000, again to 12.5 Bitcoin in July 2016 at block 420,000 and again to 6.25 Bitcoin in May 2020 at block 630,000. The next halving
for Bitcoin is expected in 2024 at block 840,000, when the block reward will reduce to 3.125 Bitcoin. This process will reoccur until the total amount of Bitcoin issued through block rewards reaches 21 million, which is expected to occur around 2140.
To date, the total number of Bitcoin which have been issued is approximately 19.4 million. While Bitcoin has had a history of price fluctuations around the halving of its block rewards, there is no guarantee that any price change will be favorable or
would compensate for the reduction in the mining reward. If a corresponding and proportionate increase in the trading price of Bitcoin does not follow these halving events, the revenue that we earn from our mining operations would see a corresponding
decrease, which would have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
Bitcoin’s utility may be perceived as a speculative asset, which can lead to price volatility.
Currently, there is a relatively limited use of any digital assets (including Bitcoin) in the retail and commercial marketplace, contributing to price volatility of digital assets. Price volatility undermines any digital
asset’s role as a medium of exchange, as retailers are much less likely to accept it as a form of payment. Banks and other established financial institutions may refuse to process funds for digital assets transactions, process wire transfers to or
from digital assets exchanges, digital assets-related companies or service providers, or maintain accounts for persons or entities transacting in digital assets. Furthermore, a significant portion of digital assets demand, including demand for
Bitcoin, is generated by investors seeking a long-term store of value or speculators seeking to profit from the short- or long-term holding of the asset.
The relative lack of acceptance of digital assets, including Bitcoin, in the retail and commercial marketplace, or a reduction of such use, limits the ability of end users to use them to pay for goods and services. Such
lack of acceptance or decline in acceptances could have a material adverse effect on the value of Bitcoin, and consequently our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Our transactions in digital assets may expose us to countries, territories, regimes, entities, organizations and individuals that are subject to sanctions and other restrictive
laws and regulations.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of State administer and enforce economic sanctions programs based on foreign policy and national security goals against
targeted countries, territories, regimes, entities, organizations and individuals. In the UK: the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is responsible for the UK’s international sanctions policy, including all international sanctions regimes
and designations; the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (“OFSI”), which is a part of His Majesty’s Treasury, is responsible for ensuring that financial sanctions are properly understood, implemented and enforced (as well as maintaining
OFSI’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets); the Department for International Trade is responsible for implementing trade sanctions and embargoes, His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs is responsible for enforcing breaches of trade
sanctions; and the National Crime Agency is responsible for investigating and enforcing breaches of financial sanctions. In Canada, Global Affairs Canada, Public Safety Canada and the Department of Justice administer and enforce Canada’s sanctions
regime. In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the primary department that both administers and enforces the sanctions regime in Australia. These laws and regulations may be implicated by a number of digital assets activities,
including investing or trading. Because of the anonymous nature of blockchain transactions, we may not be able to determine the ultimate identity of the individuals with whom we transact when buying or selling digital assets or receiving Bitcoin
through mining activities (for example, transaction fees, or rewards from mining pool), and thus may inadvertently engage in transactions with persons, or entities or territories that are the target of sanctions or other restrictions. To the extent
government enforcement authorities enforce these, and other laws and regulations that are impacted by blockchain technology, we may be subject to investigation, administrative or court proceedings, and subsequent civil or criminal monetary fines and
penalties, all of which could harm our reputation and adversely affect the value of our Ordinary shares.
Regulatory actions in one or more countries could severely affect the right to acquire, own, hold, sell or use Bitcoin or to exchange them for fiat currency.
One or more countries, such as India or Russia, may take regulatory actions in the future that could severely restrict the right to acquire, own, hold, sell or use Bitcoin or to exchange them for fiat currency. In some
nations, including China, it is illegal to accept payment in Bitcoin for consumer transactions and banking institutions are barred from accepting deposits of digital assets. Such restrictions may adversely affect us as the large-scale use of Bitcoin
as a means of exchange is presently confined to certain regions.
Bitcoin exchanges, wallets and the Bitcoin network may suffer from hacking and fraud risks, which may adversely erode user confidence in Bitcoin, which could adversely affect the
Bitcoin price and our revenues.
Bitcoin transactions are entirely digital and, as with any on-line system, are at risk from hackers, malware and operational glitches. Hackers can target Bitcoin exchanges and custody providers to gain access to
thousands of accounts and digital wallets where Bitcoin is stored. Bitcoin transactions and accounts are not insured by any type of government program and all Bitcoin transactions are permanent because they are peer-to-peer and there is no
third-party or payment processor involved. Bitcoin has previously suffered from hacking and cyber-theft which have affected its demand and price. Also, the price and exchange of Bitcoin may be subject to fraud risk. While Bitcoin uses private key
encryption to verify owners and register transactions, fraudsters and scammers may attempt to sell false Bitcoin. Future advancements in quantum computing could also potentially break the cryptographic security measures of Bitcoin. All of the above
may adversely affect the operation of the Bitcoin network, which would erode user confidence in Bitcoin and could adversely impact our business and ability to monetize the Bitcoin that we mine.
The loss or destruction of any private keys required to access our digital assets may be irreversible. If we, or any third-party with which we store our digital assets, are unable
to access our private keys (whether due to a security incident or otherwise), it could cause direct financial loss, regulatory scrutiny and reputational harm.
Digital assets are generally controllable only by the possessor of the unique private key relating to the address with which the digital assets are associated. Private keys must be safeguarded and kept private to prevent
a third party from accessing the digital assets held in such a wallet. To the extent that any of the private keys relating to any hot or cold wallets containing our digital assets are lost, destroyed or otherwise compromised or unavailable, and no
backup of the private key is accessible, we will be unable to access the digital assets held in the related wallet and, in most cases, the private key will not be capable of being restored. The loss or destruction of a private key required to access
digital assets may be irreversible. Further, we cannot provide assurance that any wallet holding our digital assets, either maintained directly by us or by an exchange or custodian on our behalf, will not be lost, hacked or compromised. Digital
assets, related technologies and digital asset service providers such as custodians and trading platforms have been, and may in the future be, subject to security breaches, hacking, or other malicious activities. As such, any loss or misappropriation
of the private keys used by them to control our digital assets due to a hack, employee or service provider misconduct or error, or other compromise could result in significant losses or fines, hurt our brand and reputation, and potentially harm the
value of any Bitcoin that we mine or otherwise acquire or hold for our own account, and adversely impact our business.
Ownership of Bitcoin is pseudonymous, and the supply of accessible Bitcoin is unknown. Individuals or entities with substantial holdings in Bitcoin may engage in large-scale sales
or distributions, either on non-market terms or in the ordinary course, which could disproportionately and adversely affect the Bitcoin market, result in a reduction in the price of Bitcoin and materially and adversely affect the price of our
Ordinary shares.
There is no registry showing which individuals or entities own Bitcoin or the quantity of Bitcoin owned by any particular person or entity. It is possible, and in fact reasonably likely, that a small group of early
Bitcoin adopters hold a significant proportion of the Bitcoin that has been created to date. There are no regulations in place that would prevent a large holder of Bitcoin from selling Bitcoin it holds. To the extent such large holders of Bitcoin
engage in large-scale sales or distributions, either on non-market terms or in the ordinary course, it could adversely affect the Bitcoin market and result in a reduction in the price of Bitcoin. This, in turn, could materially and adversely affect
the price of our Ordinary shares, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Incorrect or fraudulent Bitcoin transactions may be irreversible.
Bitcoin transactions are not, from an administrative perspective, reversible without the consent and active participation of the recipient of the Bitcoin from the transaction. In theory, Bitcoin transactions may be
reversible with the control or consent of a majority of the processing power on the network, however, we do not now, nor is it feasible that we could in the future, possess sufficient processing power to effect this reversal unilaterally, nor is it
likely that sufficient consensus on the relevant network could or would be achieved to enable such a reversal. Once a transaction has been verified and recorded in a block that is added to the Bitcoin blockchain, an incorrect transfer of Bitcoin or a
theft thereof generally will not be reversible, and we may not have sufficient recourse to recover our losses from any such transfer or theft. It is possible that, through computer or human error, or through theft or criminal action, our Bitcoin
could be transferred in incorrect amounts or to unauthorized third parties, or to uncontrolled accounts. To the extent that we are unable to recover our losses from such action, error or theft, such events could result in significant losses, hurt our
brand and reputation, and adversely impact our business.
The open-source structure of the Bitcoin network protocol may result in inconsistent and perhaps even ineffective changes to the Bitcoin protocol. Failed upgrades or maintenance
to the protocol could damage the Bitcoin network, which could adversely affect our business and the results of our operations.
The Bitcoin network operates based on an open-source protocol maintained by contributors. As an open-source protocol, Bitcoin is not represented by an official organization or authority. As the Bitcoin protocol does not
generate revenues for contributors, contributors are generally not compensated for maintaining and updating the Bitcoin protocol. The lack of guaranteed financial incentive for contributors to maintain or develop the Bitcoin protocol and the lack of
guaranteed resources to adequately address emerging issues with the Bitcoin network may reduce incentives to address the issues adequately or in a timely manner. Issues with the Bitcoin network could result in decreased demand or reduced prices for
Bitcoin, thus impacting our ability to monetize the Bitcoin we mine in accordance with our financial projections, and also reducing the total number of transactions for which mining rewards and transaction fees can be earned.
Bitcoin mining activities are energy-intensive, which may restrict the geographic locations of miners, in particular, to locations with renewable sources of power. Government
regulators may potentially restrict the ability of electricity suppliers to provide electricity to Bitcoin miners, including us, or Bitcoin mining activities generally.
Mining Bitcoin requires significant amounts of electrical power, and electricity costs are expected to continue to account for a material portion of our operating costs. There has been a substantial increase in the
demand for and cost of electricity for Bitcoin mining, and this has had varying levels of impact on local electricity supply. The availability and cost of electricity will impact the geographic locations in which we choose to conduct mining
activities, and the availability and cost of electricity in the geographic locations in which our facilities are located will impact our business, cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
Additionally, renewable sources of power currently form a large portion of our power mix and we expect it to continue to do so in the future. Renewable power may, depending on the source, be intermittent or variable and
not always available. Some electrical grids have little storage capacity, and the balance between electricity supply and demand must be maintained at all times to avoid blackouts or other cascading problems. Intermittent sources of renewable power
can provide challenges as their power can fluctuate over multiple time horizons, forcing the grid operator to adjust its day-ahead, hour-ahead, and real-time operating procedures. Any shortage of electricity supply or increase in electricity costs in
any location where we operate or plan to operate may adversely impact the viability and the expected economic return for Bitcoin mining activities in that location.
Should our operations require more electricity than can be supplied in the areas where our mining facilities are located or should the electrical transmission grid and distribution systems be unable to provide the
regular supply of electricity required, we may have to limit or suspend activities or reduce the speed of our proposed expansion, either voluntarily or as a result of either quotas imposed by energy companies or governments, or increased prices for
certain users (such as us). If we are unable to procure electricity at a suitable price, we may have to shut down our operations in that particular jurisdiction either temporarily or permanently. Additionally, our Bitcoin mining machines would be
materially adversely affected by power outages. Given the power requirement, it may not be feasible to run mining machines on back-up power generators in the event of a government restriction on electricity or a power outage, which may be caused by
climate change, weather, acts of God, wild fires, pandemics, falling trees, falling distribution poles and transmission towers, transmission and distribution cable cuts, other natural and man-made disasters, other force majeure events in the
electricity market and/or the negligence or malfeasance of others. If we are unable to receive adequate power supply and we are forced to reduce our operations due to the lack of availability or cost of electrical power, our business could experience
materially adverse impacts.
There may be significant competition for suitable Bitcoin mining sites, and government regulators, including local permitting officials, may potentially restrict our ability to set up mining sites in certain locations.
The significant consumption of electricity may have a negative environmental impact, including contribution to climate change, which may give rise to public opinion against allowing the use of electricity for Bitcoin mining activities.
Government and regulatory scrutiny related to Bitcoin mining facilities and their energy consumption and impact on the environment has increased and may continue to increase. Some governments and regulators are
increasingly focused on the energy and environmental impact of Bitcoin mining activities. This has led to new governmental measures regulating, restricting or prohibiting the use of electricity for Bitcoin mining activities, or Bitcoin mining
activities generally and may lead to further measures in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate from time to time. For example, in December 2022, the Government of British Columbia announced a temporary 18-month suspension on new and
early-stage BC Hydro connection requests from cryptocurrency mining projects. While this suspension has not impacted our existing operations, this decision and future
decisions by Government regulators may reduce the availability and/or increase the cost of electricity in the geographic locations in which our operating facilities are located, or could otherwise adversely impact our business. In March 2022, ERCOT
started requiring large scale digital asset miners to apply for permission to connect to Texas’ power grid, and in April 2022, set up the Large Flexible Load Task Force (“LFLTF”) to review the participation of large flexible loads, including Bitcoin
mining facilities, in the ERCOT market. The LFLTF has been tasked to develop policy recommendations for consideration by ERCOT relating to network planning, markets, operations, and large load interconnection processes for large flexible loads in the
ERCOT network. In addition, a bill has been passed by the Texas Senate restricting the total amount of power bitcoin miners could provide to ERCOT in demand response programs. Although the bill was not voted on by the House, it can be reintroduced at
a later time. Also, in November 2022, Governor Hochul of New York signed into law a two-year moratorium on new or renewed permits for certain electricity-generating facilities that use fossil fuel and provide energy for proof-of-work digital asset
mining operations. At the federal level, legislation has been proposed by various Senators that would require certain agencies to analyze and report on topics around energy consumption in the digital asset industry, including the type and amount of
energy used for cryptocurrency mining and the effects of digital asset mining on energy prices and baseload power levels and the effect Bitcoin mining using more than 5 megawatts of power has on greenhouse gas emissions. There have been calls by
various members of Congress on the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Department of Energy to establish rules that would require digital asset miners to report their energy usage and emissions. Additionally, in March 2022, President Biden
signed an Executive Order calling on, among other things, various agencies and departments, including the EPA, to report on the connections between distributed ledger technology and energy transitions, and the impact of such technology on climate
change. In September 2022, the Office of Science and Technology Policy issued its report on the impact of distributed ledger technology on climate change which, among other things, recommended that federal agencies work with stakeholders in the
distributed ledger technology and cryptoasset spaces to develop standards for the responsible design, development and use of environmentally responsible cryptoasset technologies. It also recommended Congress enable DOE to promulgate energy
conservation standards for cryptoasset mining equipment, blockchains and other operations.
Any of the foregoing or any other restrictions on the supply and availability of electricity and associated infrastructure could reduce the availability and/or increase the cost of electricity in the geographic locations
in which our operating facilities are located, or could otherwise adversely impact our business. If we are forced to reduce our operations due to the availability or cost of electrical power, or restrictions on Bitcoin mining activities, this will
have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
The nature of our business requires the application of complex financial accounting rules, and there is limited guidance from accounting standard setting bodies. If financial
accounting standards undergo significant changes, our operating results could be adversely affected.
The accounting rules and regulations that we must comply with are complex and subject to interpretation by the IFRS Foundation, International Accounting Standards Board, (“IASB”), the SEC, and various bodies formed to
promulgate and interpret appropriate accounting principles. A change in these principles or interpretations could have a significant effect on our reported financial results, and may even affect the reporting of transactions completed before the
announcement or effectiveness of a change. Recent actions and public comments from the IASB and the SEC have focused on the integrity of financial reporting and internal controls. In addition, many companies’ accounting policies are being subject to
heightened scrutiny by regulators and the public. Further, there have been limited precedents for the financial accounting of digital assets and related valuation and revenue recognition, and no official guidance has been provided by the IASB or the
SEC. As such, there remains significant uncertainty on how companies can account for digital assets, transactions involving digital assets and related revenue. Uncertainties in or changes to regulatory or financial accounting standards could result
in the need to change our accounting methods and restate our financial statements and impair our ability to provide timely and accurate financial information, which could adversely affect our financial statements, result in a loss of investor
confidence, and more generally impact our business, operating results and financial condition.
Risks Related to Third Parties
Banks, financial institutions, insurance providers and other counterparties may fail, may not provide relevant goods and services including bank accounts, or may cut off certain
banking or other goods and services, including to digital assets investors or businesses that engage in Bitcoin-related activities or that accept Bitcoin as payment.
A number of companies that engage in Bitcoin and/or other digital assets-related activities have been unable to find banks, financial institutions and insurance providers that are willing to provide them with bank
accounts and other services. Similarly, changing governmental regulations about the legality of transferring or holding Bitcoin and other digital assets may prompt other banks and financial institutions to close existing bank accounts or discontinue
banking or other financial services to such companies in the digital assets industry, or even investors with accounts for transferring, receiving or holding their digital assets. Specifically, China prohibits financial institutions from holding,
trading or facilitating transactions in Bitcoin. Furthermore, in September 2021, China’s National Development and Reform Commission banned all digital asset mining in a reported bid to reduce carbon emissions. Similarly, India’s proposed digital
assets legislation could have a significant impact on the ability to utilize banking services in India for digital assets. Both India and China, among other countries, are reportedly driving toward the development and adoption of a national digital
currency, and taking legislative action that could be viewed as disadvantageous to private digital assets (such as Bitcoin) in the process. In the United States, federal banking regulators have highlighted the risks involved for banking organizations
holding deposits of digital asset market participants and have released guidance restricting the types of digital-asset-related activities banking organizations in the United States can engage in.
Moreover, a series of recent high-profile bankruptcies, closures and liquidations relating to companies operating in the digital asset industry and certain of their affiliates, including the filings for bankruptcy
protection by Three Arrows Capital, BlockFi, Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, FTX Trading and Genesis Global Capital and the closure or liquidation of certain financial institutions that provided banking services to the digital assets industry,
including Signature Bank and Silvergate Bank, have caused further regulatory scrutiny on financial institutions serving digital asset market participants. In addition to financial institutions servicing the digital assets industry, there have also
been several recent high-profile bank collapses, including First Republic Bank, Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse. There is also a risk that counterparties which provide goods and/or services to the Company cannot or do not perform their
contractual obligations to the Company, including the return of prepayments and deposits made by the Company.
If such rules, restrictions or failures continue or proliferate further into markets in which we operate or plan to operate, we may be unable to obtain or maintain banking or financial services for our business and could
also experience business disruption if our necessary commercial partners, such as trading platforms, Bitcoin mining pools or mining hardware manufacturers, cannot conduct their businesses effectively due to such regulations. The difficulty that many
businesses that provide Bitcoin and derivatives or other digital assets-related activities have, and may continue to have, in finding banks and financial institutions willing to provide them services may diminish the usefulness of Bitcoin as a
payment system and harm public perception of Bitcoin. If we are unable to obtain or maintain banking services for our business as a result of our Bitcoin-related activities or banking failures, our business could be adversely affected.
We may temporarily store our Bitcoin on digital asset trading platforms which could subject our Bitcoin to the risk of loss or access.
Although we generally sell our mined Bitcoin on a daily basis, we may temporarily store all or a portion of our Bitcoin on various digital asset trading platforms which requires us to rely on the security protocols of
these trading platforms to safeguard our Bitcoin. No security system is perfect and trading platforms have in the past been subject to hacks resulting in the loss of businesses’ and customers’ digital assets. Such trading platforms may not be well
capitalized and may not have adequate insurance necessary to cover any loss or may not compensate for loss where permitted under the laws of the relevant jurisdiction. Furthermore, in the event of a trading platform’s financial troubles and
insolvency, the legal status of any Bitcoin custodied by that trading platform or any other entity that custodies our Bitcoin, even on a temporary basis, is unclear. In addition, malicious actors may be able to intercept our Bitcoin when we transact
in or otherwise transfer our Bitcoin or while we are in the process of selling our Bitcoin via such trading platforms. Digital asset trading platforms have been a target for malicious actors in the past, and, given the growth in their size and their
relatively unregulated nature, we believe these trading platforms may continue to be targets for malicious actors. An actual or perceived security breach or data security incident at any of the digital asset trading platforms with which we have
accounts could harm our ability to operate, result in loss of our assets, damage our reputation and/or adversely affect the market perception of our effectiveness, all of which could adversely affect the value of our Ordinary shares.
Disruptions at over-the-counter (“OTC”) trading desks and potential consequences of an OTC trading desk’s failure could adversely affect our business. We may be required to, or
may otherwise determine it is appropriate to, switch to an alternative digital asset trading platform and/or custodian.
There are a limited number of OTC (i.e. non-exchange) traders with which we may transact to convert our Bitcoin to fiat currencies, as applicable. A disruption at or withdrawal from the market by any such OTC trading
desk may adversely affect our ability to purchase or sell Bitcoin, which may adversely impact our business and operations. A disruption at one or more OTC trading desks will reduce liquidity in the market and may adversely impact our ability to
monetize our mined Bitcoin. If we are unable to access our preferred OTC trading desks, we may not be able to liquidate our Bitcoin at favorable prices, or we may be subject to unfavorable trading fees and associated costs.
We currently transfer the Bitcoin we mine to Kraken on a daily basis, which is then exchanged for fiat currency on the Kraken exchange or via its OTC trading desk on a daily basis. We currently aim to withdraw fiat
currency proceeds from Kraken on a daily basis, utilizing Etana Custody, a third-party custodian, to facilitate the transfer of such proceeds to one or more of our banks or other financial institutions. If Kraken, Etana Custody or any such other
digital asset trading platform or custodian suffers excessive redemptions or withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies, or suspends redemptions or withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies, as applicable, any Bitcoin we have transferred
to such platform that has not yet been exchanged for fiat currency, as well as any fiat currency that we have not yet withdrawn, as applicable, would be at risk.
In addition, if any event were to occur with respect to any of the digital asset trading platforms or custodians we utilize to liquidate the Bitcoin we mine, that requires us to, or causes us to otherwise determine it is
appropriate to, or if for any reason we decide to, switch to an alternative digital asset trading platform and/or custodian, as applicable, during any intervening period in which we are switching digital asset trading platforms and/or third-party
custodians, we could be exposed to credit risk with respect to any Bitcoin or fiat currency held by them. In addition, we could be exposed to fluctuations in the value of Bitcoin with respect to the Bitcoin that we mine during such period or that was
previously mined but has not yet been exchanged for fiat currency. Additionally, during any intervening period in which we are switching digital asset trading platforms and/or custodians, we could be exposed to credit risk with respect to any Bitcoin
or fiat currency held by them. The costs associated with switching digital asset trading platforms and/or third-party custodians could adversely affect our business and the results of our operations.
Risks Related to Regulations and Regulatory Frameworks
The regulatory environment regarding digital asset mining is in flux, and we may become subject to changes to and/or additional laws and regulations that may limit our ability to
operate.
Bitcoin and other forms of digital assets have been the source of much regulatory consternation, resulting in differing definitional outcomes without a single unifying statement. Bitcoin and other digital assets are
collectively viewed differently by different regulatory and standards-setting organizations globally as well as in the United States on the federal and state levels, and Bitcoin may be viewed differently to other digital assets. For example, the
Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) consider a digital asset as currency or an asset or property. Further, the IRS applies general tax principles that apply to property transactions to transactions
involving virtual currency. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CTFC”) classifies Bitcoin and other digital assets as commodities subject to its jurisdiction. SEC officials have also publicly stated that they consider Bitcoin to be a
commodity that is not a security, and which is therefore not subject to SEC jurisdiction, but that some digital assets should be categorized as securities that would be subject to SEC jurisdiction and United States federal securities laws.
The Canadian government has modified its value added tax legislation specifically in relation to Canadian entities that are involved in Bitcoin-related activities and their associated suppliers. These legislative
changes have the ability to eliminate the recovery of value added tax in Canada on inputs to our business. Any such unrecoverable value added tax may act to increase the cost of all inputs to our business in Canada including electricity, capital
equipment, services and intellectual property acquired by our subsidiaries that operate in Canada. We are currently evaluating the application of this legislative change to Iris Energy. We are currently subject to audits and an administrative appeal
relating to Canadian value added tax credits, which could reduce the amount of certain input tax credits we are able to recover for certain historical periods as well as going forward. See Note 18 to our
audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023 included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
As digital assets have grown in both popularity and market size, governments around the world have reacted differently. Certain governments have deemed digital assets illegal or have severely curtailed the use of digital
assets by prohibiting the acceptance of payment in Bitcoin and other digital assets for consumer transactions, barring banking institutions from accepting deposits of digital assets, or introducing punitive taxes on digital asset transactions. Other
nations, however, allow digital assets to be used and traded without restriction. In some jurisdictions, such as in the United States, digital assets and products and services in the digital asset markets are subject to extensive, and in some cases
overlapping, unclear and evolving regulatory requirements. There is a risk that relevant authorities in any jurisdiction may impose more onerous regulation on Bitcoin, for example banning its use, regulating its operation, or otherwise changing its
regulatory treatment. Such changes may introduce a cost of compliance, or have a material impact on our business model, and therefore our financial performance and shareholder returns. If the use of Bitcoin is made illegal in jurisdictions where
Bitcoin is currently traded in heavy volumes, the available market for Bitcoin may contract. For example, on September 24, 2021, the People’s Bank of China announced that all activities involving digital assets in mainland China are illegal, which
corresponded with a decrease in the price of Bitcoin. If another government with considerable economic power were to ban digital assets or related activities, this could have further impact on the price of Bitcoin. As a result, the markets and
opportunities discussed in this annual report may not reflect the markets and opportunities available to us in the future.
Digital asset trading platforms and mining pools may also be subject to increased regulation and there is a risk that increased compliance costs are passed through to users, including us, as we exchange Bitcoin earned
through our mining activities. There is a risk that a lack of stability in the Bitcoin exchange market and the closure or temporary shutdown of digital asset trading platforms and/or mining pools which we utilise due to fraud, business failure,
hackers or malware, or government-mandated restrictions may reduce confidence in the Bitcoin network and result in greater volatility in or suppression of Bitcoin’s value and consequently have an adverse impact on our operations and financial
performance. Digital asset trading platforms and mining pools typically offer a number of services, in addition to their core services. There is a risk that regulation or enforcement actions targeting digital asset trading platforms’ or mining pools’
non-Bitcoin activity could disrupt their Bitcoin-related services that we rely on.
In the United States, Congress, certain U.S. agencies (for example, the federal financial regulators, the CTFC, the SEC, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Treasury Department (“FinCEN”), the Federal
Bureau of Investigation) and relevant state regulators have increased their attention on the operations of digital asset networks and digital asset markets and their participants. Increasing regulation and regulatory scrutiny may result in new costs
for us and our management may have to devote increased time and attention to regulatory matters or change aspects of our business. Increased regulation may also result in limitations on the use cases of Bitcoin. In addition, regulatory developments
may require us to comply with certain regulatory regimes.
We cannot be certain as to how future regulatory developments will impact the treatment of Bitcoin under the law, and ongoing and future regulation and regulatory actions could significantly restrict or eliminate the
market for or uses of Bitcoin and materially and adversely impact our business. If we fail to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may seek to cease certain of our operations or be subjected to fines, penalties and
other governmental action. Such circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue as a going concern or to pursue our business strategies at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects or
operations and potentially the value of any digital assets we plan to hold or expect to acquire for our own account.
Our business and financial condition may be materially adversely affected by changes to and/or increased regulation of energy sources.
We target markets with high levels of renewable energy penetration and our energy is primarily sourced from renewable sources, whether from clean or renewable sources or through the purchase of RECs. While renewable
energy generally is less exposed to carbon pricing and underlying commodity price risks of fossil fuels, there is a risk that regulatory constraints placed on energy intense industries may restrict or ban the operation of, or increase the cost of
operating, data centers and Bitcoin mining activities. Governmental authorities have and may continue to pursue and implement legislation and regulation that seeks to limit the amount of carbon dioxide produced from electricity generation, which, in
the event any of our data centers are powered by non-renewable energy sources, would affect our ability to source electricity from fossil fuel-fired electric generation in a potentially material adverse manner. Potential increases in costs arising
from compliance and environmental monitoring may adversely affect our operations and financial performance, as well as our ability to maintain our strategy of powering our operations with 100% renewable energy.
If we were deemed an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to
continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
An issuer will generally be deemed to be an “investment company” for purposes of the 1940 Act if:
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it is an “orthodox” investment company because it is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities; or
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it is an inadvertent investment company because, absent an applicable exemption, (i) it owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government
securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis, or (ii) it owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 45% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) and/or
more than 45% of its income is derived from investment securities on a consolidated basis with its wholly owned subsidiaries.
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We believe that we are not and will not be primarily engaged in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, and we do not hold ourselves out as being engaged in those
activities. We intend to hold ourselves out as a data center and Bitcoin mining business. Accordingly, we do not believe that we are an “orthodox” investment company as defined in Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the
1940 Act and described in the first bullet point above. Furthermore, we believe that, on a consolidated basis, less than 45% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) are composed of, and less than 45% of our
income is derived from, assets that could be considered investment securities. Accordingly, we do not believe that we are an inadvertent investment company by virtue of the 45% tests in Rule 3a-1 of the 1940 Act as described in the second bullet
point above. In addition, we believe that we are not an investment company under Section 3(b)(1) of the 1940 Act because we are primarily engaged in a non-investment company business.
More specifically, Rule 3a-1 under the 1940 Act generally provides that an entity will not be deemed to be an “investment company” for purposes of the 1940 Act if: (a) it does not hold itself out as being engaged
primarily, and does not propose to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading securities and (b) consolidating the entity’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (within the meaning of the Investment Company Act), no more than 45% of
the value of its assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) consists of, and no more than 45% of its net income after taxes (for the past four fiscal quarters combined) is derived from, securities other than U.S. government
securities, securities issued by employees’ securities companies, securities issued by qualifying majority owned subsidiaries of such entity and securities issued by qualifying companies that are controlled primarily by such entity. Iris Energy
Limited’s assets, consolidated with its wholly-owned subsidiaries (within the meaning of the 1940 Act), consist primarily of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets, goodwill, deferred tax assets, mining
hardware prepayments and other assets that we believe would not be considered securities for purposes of the 1940 Act. We also believe that the primary source of income of Iris Energy Limited is properly characterized as income earned in
exchange for the provision of services. Therefore, we believe that, consolidating Iris Energy Limited’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (within the meaning of the 1940 Act), no more than 45% of the value of its assets (exclusive of U.S. government
securities and cash items) consists of, and no more than 45% of its net income after taxes (for the past four fiscal quarters combined) is derived from, securities other than U.S. government securities, securities issued by employees’ securities
companies, securities issued by qualifying majority owned subsidiaries of Iris Energy Limited and securities issued by qualifying companies that are controlled primarily by Iris Energy Limited. Accordingly, we do not believe Iris Energy Limited is an
investment company by virtue of the 45% test in Rule 3a-1 under the 1940 Act as described in clause (ii) in the second bullet point above.
Accordingly, we believe that on a consolidated basis less than 45% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) are composed of, and less than 45% of our income is derived from, assets
that could be considered investment securities and we do not believe that we are, or will be, deemed to be an investment company.
Furthermore, while certain digital assets may be deemed to be securities, we do not believe that certain other digital assets, in particular Bitcoin, are securities. Our mining activities currently focus on Bitcoin,
which we believe should not be treated as an investment security for purposes of the 1940 Act. Therefore, to the extent we hold assets in Bitcoin, we believe that such assets would not constitute investment securities for purposes of the 45% tests in
Rule 3a-1 of the 1940 Act as described in clause (ii) in the second bullet point above. However, although the SEC and courts are providing increasing guidance on the treatment of digital assets for purposes of federal securities law, this continues
to be an evolving area of law. Previous statements by the SEC that Bitcoin should not be considered a security are not official policy statements by the SEC and reflect only the speakers’ views, which are not binding on the SEC or any other agency or
court. Therefore, it is possible that the SEC or a court could take a position that Bitcoin constitutes an investment security for purposes of the 1940 Act, which might require us to register as an investment company.
In order to stay within the limits described above, we may need to take certain measures, which may include acquiring assets with our cash, liquidating our investment securities or seeking no-action relief or exemptive
relief from the SEC if we are unable to acquire sufficient assets or liquidate sufficient investment securities in a timely manner. This may limit our ability to make certain investments or enter into joint ventures that could otherwise have a
positive impact on our earnings. In any event, we do not intend to become an investment company engaged in the business of investing and trading securities.
If we were to be wrong with regard to our analysis under Rule 3a-1 under the 1940 and also if we were to be deemed an inadvertent investment company, we may seek to rely on Rule
3a-2 under the 1940 Act, which may be used no more than once every three years and which allows an inadvertent investment company a grace period of one year from the earlier of (a) the date on which the issuer owns securities and/or cash having a
value exceeding 50% of the issuer’s total assets on either a consolidated or unconsolidated basis or (b) the date on which the issuer owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of such issuer’s total
assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis.
The 1940 Act and the rules thereunder contain detailed parameters for the organization and operations of investment companies. Among other things, the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder limit or prohibit transactions with
affiliates, impose limitations on the issuance of debt and equity securities, prohibit the issuance of stock options, and impose certain governance requirements. We intend to continue to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed to be an
investment company under the 1940 Act. However, if anything were to happen that would cause us to be deemed to be an investment company under the 1940 Act, requirements imposed by the 1940 Act, including limitations on our capital structure, ability
to transact business with affiliates, ability to compensate key employees, and our ability to raise money in the U.S. capital markets and from U.S. lenders or to have our shares listed on a U.S. stock exchange, could make it impractical for us to
continue our business as currently conducted and/or impair the agreements and arrangements between and among us and our senior management team. Compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act applicable to registered investment companies may make it
difficult for us to continue our current operations or our operations as a company that is engaged in the business of developing data center infrastructure and in activities related to Bitcoin mining, and this would materially and adversely affect
our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we were required to register as an investment company but failed to do so, the consequences could be severe. Among the various remedies it may pursue, the SEC may seek an order of a court to enjoin us from continuing
to operate as an unregistered investment company. In addition, all contracts that we have entered into in the course of our business, including securities that we have offered and sold to investors, will be rendered unenforceable except to the extent
of any equitable remedies that might apply. An affected investor in such case may pursue the remedy of rescission.
If regulatory changes or interpretations of our activities require us to register under the regulations promulgated by FinCEN under the authority of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, or
otherwise under state laws, we may incur significant compliance costs, which could be substantial or cost-prohibitive. If we become subject to these regulations, our costs in complying with them may have a material adverse effect on our business and
the results of its operations.
Certain digital assets including Bitcoin are treated as “money” by FinCEN, and businesses engaged in the transfer of money or other payments services are subject to registration and licensure requirements at the U.S.
federal level and also under similar U.S. state laws as a money transmitter. While FinCEN has issued guidance that digital asset mining, without engagement in other activities, does not require registration and licensure with FinCEN, this could be
subject to change as FinCEN and other regulatory agencies continue their scrutiny of the Bitcoin network and digital assets generally. To the extent that our business activities cause us to be deemed a “money services business” under the regulations
promulgated by FinCEN under the authority of the BSA, we may be required to comply with FinCEN regulations, including those that would mandate us to implement anti-money laundering programs, make certain reports to FinCEN and maintain certain
records.
To the extent that our activities would cause us to be deemed a “money transmitter” or equivalent designation, under state law in any state in which we may operate, we may be required to seek a license or otherwise
register with a state regulator and comply with state regulations that may include the implementation of anti-money laundering programs, including implementing a know-your-counterparty program and transaction monitoring, maintenance of certain
records and other operational requirements. Such additional federal or state regulatory obligations may cause us to incur extraordinary expenses. Furthermore, we may not be capable of complying with certain federal or state regulatory obligations
applicable to “money services businesses” and “money transmitters,” such as monitoring transactions and blocking transactions, because of the nature of the Bitcoin blockchain. If it is deemed to be subject to and determined not to comply with such
additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may act to dissolve and liquidate.
The application of the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to our business is unclear and is subject
to change in a manner that is difficult to predict. To the extent we are deemed to be or subsequently become subject to regulation by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission in connection with our business activities, we may incur additional
regulatory obligations and compliance costs, which may be significant.
The CFTC has stated and judicial decisions involving CFTC enforcement actions have confirmed that Bitcoin and other digital assets fall within the definition of a “commodity” under the U.S. Commodities Exchange Act of
1936, as amended (the “CEA”), and the regulations promulgated by the CFTC thereunder (“CFTC Rules”). As a result, the CFTC has general enforcement authority to police against manipulation and fraud in the spot markets for Bitcoin and other digital
assets. From time to time, manipulation, fraud and other forms of improper trading by other participants involved in the markets for Bitcoin and other digital assets have resulted in, and may in the future result in, CFTC investigations, inquiries,
enforcement action, and similar actions by other regulators, government agencies and civil litigation. Such investigations, inquiries, enforcement actions and litigation may cause adverse publicity for Bitcoin and other digital assets, which could
adversely impact mining profitability.
In addition to the CFTC’s general enforcement authority to police against manipulation and fraud in spot markets for Bitcoin and other digital assets, the CFTC has regulatory and supervisory authority with respect to
commodity futures, options, and/or swaps (“Commodity Interests”) and certain transactions in commodities offered to retail purchasers on a leveraged, margined, or financed basis. Although we do not currently engage in such transactions, changes in
our activities, the CEA, CFTC Rules, the interpretations and guidance of the CFTC, or future legislative changes to the CFTC’s jurisdiction may subject us to additional regulatory requirements, licenses and approvals which could result in significant
increased compliance and operational costs. For example, a number of bills introduced in Congress would give the CFTC expanded jurisdiction over digital assets, including general authority to regulate digital asset spot markets and their
participants.
Furthermore, trusts, syndicates and other collective investment vehicles operated for the purpose of trading in Commodity Interests may be subject to regulation and oversight by the CFTC and the National Futures
Association (“NFA”) as “commodity pools.” If our mining activities or transactions in Bitcoin and other digital assets were deemed by the CFTC to involve Commodity Interests and the operation of a commodity pool for the Company’s shareholders, we
could be subject to regulation as a commodity pool operator and required to register as such. Such additional registrations may result in increased expenses, thereby materially and adversely impacting an investment in our Ordinary shares. If we
determine it is not practicable to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may seek to cease certain of our operations. Any such action may adversely affect an investment in our business.
While we are not aware of any provision of the CEA or CFTC Rules currently applicable to the mining of Bitcoin and other digital assets, this is subject to change. We cannot be certain how future changes in legislation,
regulatory developments, or changes in CFTC interpretations and policy may impact the treatment of digital assets and the mining of digital assets. Any resulting requirements that apply to or relate to our mining activities or our transactions in
Bitcoin and digital assets may cause us to incur additional extraordinary, non-recurring expenses, thereby materially and adversely impacting an investment in our Ordinary shares.
As we continue to expand and localize our international activities, our obligations to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and policies across a variety of jurisdictions will
increase and we may be subject to investigations and enforcement actions by U.S. and non-U.S. regulators and governmental authorities.
We currently operate in three countries – Australia, Canada and the United States – and therefore are subject to relevant laws and regulations in each jurisdiction. Laws regulating financial services, the internet,
mobile technologies, digital assets and related technologies in Australia, Canada, the United States and other jurisdictions often impose different, more specific, or potentially conflicting obligations, as well as broader liability, on us. At the
same time, we may also be required to comply with sanctions and export controls and counterterrorism financing laws and regulations in Australia, Canada, the United States and other jurisdictions around the world.
Regulators worldwide frequently study each other’s approaches to the regulation of digital assets such as Bitcoin. Consequently, developments in any jurisdiction may influence other jurisdictions. New developments with
respect to specific digital asset transactions or operations in one jurisdiction may be extended to additional transactions or operations and/or other jurisdictions. As a result, the risks created by any new law or regulation in one jurisdiction may
be magnified by the potential that they may be replicated in other jurisdictions, affecting our business in another jurisdiction or involving another aspect of our operations. Conversely, if regulations diverge worldwide, we may face difficulty
adjusting our business in order to comply with such divergent regulations. These risks are heightened as we face increased competitive pressure from other similarly situated businesses that engage in regulatory arbitrage to avoid the compliance costs
associated with regulatory changes.
The complexity and ongoing development of U.S. federal and state, Australian, Canadian and other international regulatory and enforcement regimes, coupled with the global scope of our operations and the evolving global
regulatory environment, could result in a single event prompting a large number of overlapping investigations and legal and regulatory proceedings by multiple government authorities in different jurisdictions. Any of the foregoing could, individually
or in the aggregate, harm our reputation and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. Due to the uncertain application of existing laws and regulations, it may be that, despite our analysis concluding that certain activities
are currently unregulated, such activities may indeed be subject to financial regulation, licensing, or authorization obligations that we have not obtained or with which we have not complied. As a result, we are at a heightened risk of enforcement
action, litigation, regulatory and legal scrutiny which could lead to sanctions, cease and desist orders, or other penalties and censures that could significantly and adversely affect our continued operations and financial condition.
Bitcoin’s status as a “security” in any relevant jurisdiction is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and if we are unable to properly characterize Bitcoin, we may be subject to regulatory scrutiny, investigations,
fines and other penalties, which may adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. Furthermore, a determination that Bitcoin is a “security” may adversely affect the value of Bitcoin and our business.
In the United States, some SEC officials have taken the position that nearly all digital assets fall within the definition of a “security” under the U.S. federal securities laws, although they have explicitly excluded
Bitcoin from this characterization. The legal test for determining whether any given digital asset is a security is a highly complex, fact-driven analysis that may evolve over time, and the outcome is difficult to predict. The SEC generally does not
provide advance guidance or confirmation on the status of any particular digital asset as a security. It is also possible that a change in the governing administration or the appointment of new SEC commissioners could substantially impact the views
of the SEC and its staff.
With respect to all other digital assets, there is no certainty under the applicable legal test that such assets are not securities, notwithstanding the conclusions we may draw based on our risk-based assessment
regarding the likelihood that a particular digital asset could be deemed a security under applicable laws. Recent federal court cases have been inconsistent in their application of the applicable legal test.
Any enforcement action by the SEC or any international or state securities regulator asserting that Bitcoin is a security, or a court decision to that effect, would be expected to have an immediate material adverse
impact on the trading value of Bitcoin, as well as our business. This is because the business models behind most digital assets are incompatible with regulations applying to transactions in securities. If a digital asset is determined or asserted to
be a security, it is likely to become difficult or impossible for the digital asset to be traded, cleared or custodied in the United States, Australia, Canada and elsewhere through the same channels used by non-security digital assets, which in
addition to materially and adversely affecting the trading value of the digital asset is likely to significantly impact its liquidity and market participants’ ability to convert the digital asset into U.S. dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian
dollars and other currencies.
In addition, to the extent the SEC or its staff allege, or a federal court finds that Bitcoin is a security, we may be required to adjust our strategy or assets accordingly. There can be no assurance that we will be able
to maintain our exclusion from registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act. In addition, continuously seeking to avoid the need to register under the 1940 Act may limit our ability to engage in Bitcoin mining operations or otherwise make
certain investments, and these limitations could result in our holding assets we may wish to sell or selling assets we may wish to hold, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to comply with anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws, including the FCPA and similar laws associated with our activities outside of the United States, could
subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.
We operate an international business and may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities. We are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act (“FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act, Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, section 70.2 of the Australian Criminal Code and other applicable anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws in countries in which we conduct activities. The
FCPA prohibits providing, offering, promising, or authorizing, directly or indirectly, anything of value to government officials, political parties, or political candidates for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or securing any improper
business advantage. The provisions of the UK Bribery Act extend beyond bribery of government officials and create offenses in relation to commercial bribery including private sector recipients. The provisions of the UK Bribery Act also create
offenses for accepting bribes in addition to bribing another person. In addition, U.S. public companies are required to maintain records that accurately and fairly represent their transactions and have an adequate system of internal accounting
controls. The Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act prohibits directly or indirectly giving, offering, or agreeing to give or offer any form of advantage or benefit to a foreign public official to obtain an advantage in the course of
business. The Act also prohibits engaging in certain accounting practices where those practices are employed in order to bribe a foreign public official or conceal a bribe. Section 70.2 of the Australian Criminal Code prohibits providing, offering,
or promising a benefit or causing a benefit to be provided when the benefit is not legitimately due to the person with the intention of influencing a foreign public official in the exercise of their official duties to obtain or retain a business or
business advantage.
In many foreign countries, including countries in which we may conduct business, it may be a local custom that businesses engage in practices that are prohibited by the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act, Canadian Corruption of
Foreign Public Officials Act, section 70.2 of the Australian Criminal Code and other applicable laws and regulations. We face significant risks if we or any of our directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents or other partners or
representatives fail to comply with these laws, and governmental authorities in Australia, the United States, the UK and elsewhere could seek to impose substantial civil and/or criminal fines and penalties, which could have a material adverse effect
on our business, reputation, operating results, prospects and financial condition.
We have implemented anti-corruption policies, and will be conducting appropriate training, designed to foster compliance with these laws, including the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act, Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public
Officials Act, section 70.2 of the Australian Criminal Code and other applicable laws and regulations. However, our directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents and other partners to which we outsource certain of our business operations may
nevertheless take actions in violation of our policies or applicable law. Any such violation could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, operating results, prospects and financial conditions.
Any violation of the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act, Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, section 70.2 of the Australian Criminal Code and other applicable anti-corruption laws, or anti-money laundering laws
could result in whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations, loss of export privileges, severe criminal or civil sanctions and, in the case of the FCPA, suspension or debarment from U.S. government contracts, any of which could
have a materially adverse effect on our reputation, business, operating results, prospects and financial condition. In addition, responding to any enforcement action or internal investigation related to alleged misconduct may result in a significant
diversion of management’s attention and resources and significant defense costs and other professional fees.
We and our third-party service providers, including mining pool service providers, may fail to adequately secure or maintain the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the
data we hold or detect any related threats, and may experience other security incidents that result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events, any of which could disrupt our normal business operations and our financial performance and adversely
affect our business.
Our business operations and reputation depend on our ability to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data, digital assets and systems related to our business, suppliers, proprietary technologies,
processes and intellectual property. We and our business and commercial partners, such as mining pools, digital asset exchanges and other third parties with which we interact, rely extensively on third-party service providers’ information technology
(“IT”) systems, including renewable energy infrastructure, cloud-based systems and on-premises servers (i.e. data centers), to record and process transactions and manage our operations, among other matters.
We and our third-party service providers, partners and collaborators may in the future experience failures of, or disruptions to, IT systems and may be subject to attempted and successful security breaches or data
security incidents. Security breaches or data security incidents experienced by us or our third-party service providers, manufacturers, joint collaborators or other business or commercial partners can vary in scope and intent from breaches resulting
from unintentional events to economically-driven attacks to malicious attacks targeting our key operating systems with the intent to misappropriate, disrupt, disable or otherwise cripple our operations and service offerings. This can include any
combination of phishing attacks, malware, ransomware attacks or viruses targeted at our key systems and IT systems as well as those of our third-party service providers, and such attacks may arise from internal sources (for example, employees,
contractors, service providers, suppliers and operational risks) or external sources (for example, nation states, terrorists, hacktivists, competitors and acts of nature). In addition, certain types of attacks could harm us even if our systems are
left undisturbed. For example, certain threats are designed to remain dormant or undetectable, sometimes for extended periods of time, or until launched against a target, and we may not be able to implement adequate preventative measures. Other
attacks may be caused in a manner that does not require unauthorized access to our IT systems, such as denial of service attacks on websites with the intention of making network services unavailable to intended users. Unauthorized parties have
attempted, and we expect that they will continue to attempt, to gain access to our systems and facilities, as well as those of our partners and third-party service providers, through various means. A successful security breach or security incident
may target us directly, or indirectly target or impact us through our third-party service providers, manufacturers, joint collaborators or other business or commercial partners. A security breach or other security incident at a third-party service
provider’s location or ours, or within a third-party service provider’s systems or ours, could affect our control over personal or confidential information or adversely impact our operations and ability to earn revenue.
The inadvertent disclosure of or unauthorized access to IT systems, networks and data, including personal information, confidential information and proprietary information, may adversely affect our business or our
reputation and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. In addition, undiscovered vulnerabilities in our products, equipment or services could expose us to hackers or other unscrupulous third parties who develop and deploy
viruses and other malicious software programs that could attack our products, equipment services and business. In the case of such a security breach, security incident or other IT failure, we may suffer damage to our key systems and experience (i)
interruption in our services, (ii) loss of ability to control or operate our equipment, (iii) misappropriation of personal data and (iv) loss of critical data that could interrupt our operations, which may adversely impact our reputation and brand
and expose us to increased risks of violation of applicable law (for example, personal data protection laws), governmental and regulatory investigation and enforcement actions, private litigation or other liability, including potentially significant
financial losses, regulatory fines and penalties, extortion, threats and reimbursement and other compensation costs, any of which could adversely affect our business. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred to investigate, remediate and
prevent cybersecurity incidents.
A security breach may also trigger mandatory data breach notification obligations under applicable privacy and data protection laws, which, if applicable, could lead to widespread adverse publicity and a loss in
confidence regarding the effectiveness of our data security measures. Furthermore, mitigating the risk of future attacks or IT systems failures have resulted, and could in the future result, in additional operating and capital costs in systems
technology, personnel, monitoring and other investments. In addition, many insurers are currently reluctant to provide cybersecurity insurance for digital assets and we do not currently hold cybersecurity insurance. Therefore, in the event of any
such actual or potential incidents, our costs and resources diverted and any impacted assets may not be partially or fully recoverable. Most of our sensitive and valuable data, including digital assets, are stored with third-party custodians and
service providers. Therefore, we rely on the digital asset community to optimize and protect sensitive and valuable data, confidential information and identify vulnerabilities. There can be no guarantee that these measures and the work of the digital
asset developer community will identify all vulnerabilities, errors and defects, or will identify and resolve all vulnerabilities, errors and defects prior to a malicious actor being able to utilize them. Any actual or perceived security breach at
any of those third-party custodians and service providers could lead to theft or irretrievable loss of our fiat currencies or digital assets, which may or may not be covered by insurance maintained by us or our third-party custodians or service
providers.
In addition, our strategy to explore the potential diversification of our revenue sources and expand into new markets such as HPC solutions or hosting may expose us to additional risks related to cybersecurity. In
particular, our strategy of focusing on HPC solutions or potential hosting will likely involve us allowing customers to utilize our data centers, which represents a departure from our current self-mining operating model and introduces additional
cybersecurity risks, even with multi-tenancy security measures in place. The increased complexity of managing access controls and isolating customer environments can lead to potential vulnerabilities and create opportunities for unauthorized access,
data breaches or other cybersecurity incidents. Additionally, the risk profile of each customer may vary, and threats or compromises affecting one tenant could potentially impact others. Constant vigilance, robust security protocols, regular audits,
and collaboration with customers on cybersecurity best practices are essential to help to mitigate these risks and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of data within a shared data center environment. Our failure to effectively maintain such
measures may adversely impact our operations and ability to earn revenue.
We are subject to governmental regulation and other legal obligations related to data privacy, data protection and information security. If we are unable to comply with these, we
may be subject to governmental enforcement actions, litigation, fines and penalties or adverse publicity.
We collect and process data, including personal, financial and confidential information about individuals, including our employees and business partners and may obtain or process personal data in the provision of hosting
or HPC solutions we may offer. The collection, use, processing and storage of such data about individuals are governed by data privacy laws, regulations, guidelines and rules enacted and enforced in Australia, Canada, the UK, EU, the U.S. (federal
and state) and other jurisdictions worldwide. We do not currently have any formal data privacy policies and procedures in place and have not completed an assessment of whether we are in compliance with all applicable data privacy laws and
regulations. Data privacy laws and regulations are complex, continue to evolve, and on occasion may be inconsistent between jurisdictions leading to uncertainty in interpreting such laws and it is possible that these laws, regulations and
requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our existing information processing practices, and many of these laws are significantly litigated and/or subject to regulatory enforcement. The implication of this
includes that various federal, state and foreign legislative or regulatory bodies may enact or adopt new or additional laws and regulations concerning data privacy, data retention, data transfer and data protection. Such laws may continue to add to
our compliance costs, restrict or dictate how we collect, maintain, combine, disseminate and otherwise process information and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
The General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), and any additional requirements in the national implementing laws of countries in the European Economic Area (“EEA”), which went into effect in the European Union on May
25, 2018, applies to the collection, use, retention, security, processing, and transfer of personal data of individuals in the EEA; the United Kingdom (“UK”) data protection regime consisting primarily of the UK General Data Protection Regulation
(“UK GDPR”) and the UK Data Protection Act 2018 could further add to our compliance costs and limit how we process information. It is possible that the GDPR and UK GDPR may be interpreted or applied in a manner that is adverse to us or otherwise
inconsistent with our practices; or that the European Union, UK or other national supervisory authorities may hold that we are not in full compliance with the GDPR’s or UK GDPR’s requirements. In addition, the GDPR increases the scrutiny of transfers
of personal data from the EEA to the United States and other jurisdictions that the European Commission does not recognize as having “adequate” data protection laws; in July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union limited how organizations
could lawfully transfer personal data from the EEA and, in the case of the UK GDPR, the transfers of personal data from the UK to the United States by invalidating the EU-US Privacy Shield and imposing further restrictions on use of the standard
contractual clauses, which could increase our costs and our ability to efficiently process personal data. On July 10, 2023, the European Commission adopted an adequacy decision in relation to the United States under a new EU-U.S. Data Privacy
Framework (“EU-U.S. DPF”). The adequacy decision concludes that the United States ensures an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the EU to organizations in the United States that are included in the “Data Privacy Framework
List,” maintained and made publicly available by the United States Department of Commerce pursuant to the EU-U.S. DPF. However, the EU-U.S. DPF replaces two prior adequacy frameworks which were invalidated by the CJEU and any further invalidation of
the EU-U.S. DPF by the CJEU could create considerable uncertainty regarding providing our products and services in Europe, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Additionally, following
the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union and the expiry of the transition period, from January 1, 2021, we now have to comply with the GDPR and separately the UK GDPR, each regime having the ability to fine up to the greater of €20 million /
£17.5 million, respectively or 4% of annual global turnover. Failure to comply with these laws may also result in the imposition of significant criminal penalties and private litigation.
The relationship between the UK and the European Union in relation to certain aspects of data protection law remains subject to change, including how data transfers between European Union member states and the UK will be
treated. These changes may lead to additional compliance costs and could increase our overall risk. Failure to comply with the requirements of the GDPR and UK GDPR may result in fines and other administrative penalties. Government enforcement actions
can be costly and interrupt the regular operation of our business, and data breaches or violations of data privacy laws can result in fines, reputational damage and civil lawsuits, any of which may adversely affect our business, financial condition
and results of operations. Also, like many websites, we use cookies and other tracking technologies on our website. In recent years, European lawmakers and regulators have expressed concern over electronic marketing and the use of nonessential
cookies, web beacons and similar technology for online behavioral advertising, or tracking technologies, leading to an effort to replace the current rules on e-marketing (currently set out in the ePrivacy Directive and national implementing laws)
with a new ePrivacy Regulation. When implemented, the new ePrivacy Regulation is expected to alter rules on tracking technologies and significantly increase fining powers to the same levels as the GDPR.
In the United States, according to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), failure to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal information secure constitutes unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce in
violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C § 45(a). The FTC expects a company’s data security measures to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and
complexity of its business, and the cost of available tools to improve security and reduce vulnerabilities. State privacy and security laws vary from state to state and, in some cases, can impose more restrictive requirements than U.S. federal law.
For example, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act on June 28, 2018, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, and subsequently enacted the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020, (collectively, the “CCPA”), which became effective in
most material respects on January 1, 2023. The CCPA creates individual privacy rights for California consumers and increases the privacy and security obligations of entities handling certain personal data. The CCPA is enforced by both the Office of
the Attorney General of California and the newly-established California Privacy Protection Agency, and failure to fully comply can result in regulatory fines of up to $2,500 per violation (which has been interpreted to mean per impacted individual)
and civil penalties up to $7,500 per violation for knowing/willful violations. The CCPA further allows consumers to file lawsuits against a business if a data breach involving certain sensitive information has occurred as a result of the business’
violation of the duty to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices. This private right of action and the significant outstanding uncertainties in the interpretation, application and enforcement of key CCPA provisions may
increase the likelihood of, and risks associated with, data breach litigation. Other state legislatures have passed, are currently contemplating, or may pass their own comprehensive data privacy and security laws, with potentially greater penalties
and more rigorous compliance requirements relevant to our business. The CCPA and other such similar laws may increase our compliance costs and potential liability, and many similar laws have been proposed and/or enacted in other states and at the
federal level.
Any actual or perceived failure by us or the third parties with whom we work to comply with data privacy laws, regulations, guidelines, rules or industry standards, or any security incident that results in the
unauthorized release or transfer of personally identifiable information, may result in governmental enforcement actions and investigations including by European Data Protection Authorities and US federal and state regulatory authorities, fines and
penalties, litigation and/or adverse publicity, including by consumer advocacy groups, and could cause a loss of trust in us, which could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, results of operations,
financial condition and prospects.
We are subject to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including applicable zoning, building-code and energy-efficiency standards and worker health and safety
laws and regulations, that may expose us to significant liabilities for penalties, damages or costs of remediation or compliance.
Our operations and properties are subject to laws and regulations governing health and safety, the discharge of pollutants into the environment or otherwise relating to health, safety and environmental protection
requirements in the countries and localities in which we operate. These laws and regulations may impose numerous obligations that are applicable to us, including acquisition of a permit or other approval before conducting construction or regulated
activities; restrictions on the types, quantities and concentration of materials that can be released into the environment; limitation or prohibition of construction and operating activities in environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands or
areas with endangered plants or species; imposition of specific health and safety standards addressing worker protection; imposition of certain zoning, building code and energy-efficiency standards for the sites at which we operate; and imposition of
significant liabilities for pollution, including investigation, remedial and clean-up costs. Failure to comply with these requirements may expose us to fines, penalties and/or interruptions in our operations, among other sanctions, that could have a
material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Certain environmental laws may impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where hazardous substances have been
disposed of or otherwise released into the environment, including at current or former properties owned or operated by us, even under circumstances where the hazardous substances were released by prior owners or operators or the activities conducted
and from which a release emanated complied with applicable law. Failure to secure renewal of, or maintain, permits or tightening of restrictions within our existing permits, or the failure to meet the zoning, building code and energy-efficiency
standards imposed by regulations applicable to our sites, could have a material adverse effect on our business or cause us to incur material expenses. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for
personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by noise or the release of hazardous substances into the environment.
The trend in environmental regulation has been to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may be perceived to impact the environment or climate change, such as restrictions on the use of electricity
for Bitcoin mining activities, and thus there can be no assurance as to impact or the amount or timing of future expenditures for environmental regulation compliance or remediation. New or revised laws and regulations that result in increased
compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, or the incurrence of environmental liabilities, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
The regulatory and legislative developments related to climate change may materially adversely affect our brand, reputation, business, results of operations and financial
position.
A number of governments or governmental bodies have introduced or are contemplating legislative and regulatory changes in response to the increasing
focus on climate change and its potential impact, including from governmental bodies, interest groups and stakeholders. For example, the Paris Agreement became effective in November 2016, and signatories are required to submit their most recent
emissions goals in the form of nationally determined contributions. Despite our sustainability objectives in sourcing electricity from renewable energy sources, given the very significant amount of electrical power required to operate Bitcoin
mining machines and potential HPC solutions we may offer, as well as the environmental impact of mining for the rare earth metals used in the production of mining servers, the Bitcoin mining industry and HPC industry has, and may in the future,
become a target for future environmental and energy regulation. Legislation and increased regulation regarding climate change could restrict our operations and impose significant costs on us and our suppliers, including costs related to increased
energy requirements, capital equipment, environmental monitoring and reporting, costs to purchase renewable energy credits or allowances and other costs to comply with such regulations. Specifically, imposition of a tax or other regulatory fee in
a jurisdiction where we operate or on electricity that we purchase could result in substantially higher energy costs, and due to the significant amount of electrical power required to operate Bitcoin mining machines and hardware to be used for
HPC solutions we may offer, could in turn put our facilities at a competitive disadvantage. Any future climate change regulations could also adversely impact our ability to compete with companies situated in areas not subject to such limitations.
Given the political significance and uncertainty around the impact of climate change and how it should be addressed, we cannot predict how climate change legislation and regulation will affect our financial condition,
operating performance and ability to compete. Furthermore, even without such regulation, increased awareness and any adverse publicity in the global marketplace about potential impacts on climate change by us or other companies in our industry could
harm our reputation. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Failure to keep up with evolving trends and shareholder expectations relating to Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) issues or reporting could adversely impact our
reputation, share price, demand for our securities and access to and cost of capital.
Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny from stakeholders related to their ESG practices and disclosures, including related to climate change (such as the impact of Bitcoin mining operations on the
environment), diversity and inclusion and governance standards. Certain institutional investors, investor advocacy groups, investment funds, creditors and other influential financial markets participants have become increasingly focused on companies’
ESG practices and disclosures in evaluating their investments and business relationships. The heightened stakeholder focus on ESG issues related to our business requires the continuous monitoring of various and evolving laws, regulations, standards
and expectations and the associated reporting requirements. Certain organizations also provide ESG ratings, scores and benchmarking studies that assess companies’ ESG practices. Although there are no universal standards for such ratings, scores or
benchmarking studies, they are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. It is possible that our future shareholders or organizations that report on, rate or score ESG practices will not be satisfied with our ESG
strategy or performance. Unfavorable or inaccurate press about or ratings or assessments of our ESG strategies or practices, regardless of whether or not we comply with applicable legal requirements, may lead to adverse investor sentiment toward us
and our industry, which in turn could have an adverse impact on our share price, demand for our securities and our access to, and cost of, capital.
In addition, the adoption of new ESG-related regulations applicable to our business, such as the proposed SEC climate-related disclosure rule, or pressure from key stakeholders to comply with additional voluntary
ESG-related initiatives or frameworks, could require us to make substantial investments in ESG matters, which could impact the results of our operations. Decisions or related investments in this regard could affect consumer perceptions as to our
brand. Furthermore, if our competitors’ corporate responsibility or ESG performance is perceived to be better than ours, potential or current investors may elect to invest in our competitors instead. In the event that we publicly disclose,
voluntarily or otherwise, certain initiatives or goals regarding ESG matters, including relating to our focus on renewable energy, we could fail, or be perceived to fail, in our achievement of such initiatives or goals, or we could be criticized for
the scope of such initiatives or goals. If we fail to satisfy the expectations of investors and other key stakeholders or fail to comply with new ESG-related regulations or our initiatives are not executed as planned, our reputation and financial
results could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, our share price, demand for our securities and access to, and cost of, capital, could be adversely affected.
Our compliance and risk management methods might not be effective and may result in outcomes that could adversely affect our reputation, operating results and financial condition.
Our ability to comply with applicable complex and evolving laws, regulations and rules is largely dependent on the establishment and maintenance of our compliance, audit and reporting systems, as well as our ability to
attract and retain qualified compliance and other risk management personnel. We cannot assure you that our policies and procedures will be effective or that we will be successful in identifying all laws, regulations and rules applicable to us and in
monitoring or evaluating the risks to which we are or may be exposed in all market environments or against all types of risks, including unidentified or unanticipated risks. Our risk management policies and procedures rely on a combination of
technical and human controls and supervision that are subject to error and failure. Some of our methods for managing risk are discretionary by nature and are based on internally developed controls and observed historical market behavior, and may also
involve reliance on standard industry practices. These methods may not adequately prevent losses, particularly as they relate to extreme market movements, which may be significantly greater than historical fluctuations in the market. Our compliance
and risk management policies and procedures also may not adequately prevent losses due to technical errors if our testing and quality control practices are not effective in preventing failures. In addition, we may elect to adjust our risk management
policies and procedures to allow for an increase in risk tolerance, which could expose us to the risk of greater losses.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets or other intellectual property rights or otherwise obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual
property rights, our business and competitive position could be harmed.
Our ability to conduct our business in a profitable manner relies in part on our proprietary methods and designs, which we primarily protect as trade secrets. We rely upon trade secret and other intellectual property
laws, physical and technological security measures and contractual commitments to protect our trade secrets and other intellectual property rights, including entering into non-disclosure agreements with employees, consultants and third parties with
access to our trade secrets. However, such measures may not provide adequate protection and the value of our trade secrets could be lost through misappropriation or breach of our confidentiality agreements. For example, an employee with authorized
access may misappropriate our trade secrets and provide them to a competitor, and the recourse we take against such misconduct may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully, because enforcing a claim that a party illegally
disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Thus, if any of our trade secrets were to be disclosed or misappropriated, our competitive position could be harmed. In
addition to the risk of misappropriation and unauthorized disclosure, our competitors may develop similar or better methods independently in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us, which could result in costly product redesign efforts,
discontinuance of certain product offerings or other competitive harm. Furthermore, any of our intellectual property rights could be challenged, invalidated, circumvented, infringed, diluted, disclosed or misappropriated and adequate legal recourse
may be unavailable. Thus, there can be no assurance that our trade secrets or other intellectual property rights will be sufficient to protect against competitors operating their business in a manner that is substantially similar to us.
We may not be able to protect our competitive advantage if we are otherwise unable to obtain, maintain, protect or enforce our intellectual property rights or if we do not detect or are unable to address unauthorized use
of our intellectual property. Despite precautions we may take, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to use information that we regard as proprietary to create services that compete with ours. We have not sought patent protection for our
proprietary methods, designs or technologies, and, as a result, we cannot look to patent rights for protection of the same. Regardless, litigation or proceedings before governmental authorities and administrative bodies may be necessary in the future
to enforce our intellectual property rights and to determine the validity and scope of our rights and the proprietary rights of others. Should we choose to secure additional rights in our intellectual property, the process of obtaining and
maintaining such protection is expensive and time-consuming, and we may not be able to prosecute all necessary or desirable applications at a reasonable cost. We may not execute agreements with every party who has access to our confidential
information or contributes to the development of our intellectual property. Accordingly, we may become subject to disputes with such parties regarding the ownership of intellectual property that we consider to be ours.
Our intellectual property rights and the enforcement or defense of such rights may be affected by developments or uncertainty in laws and regulations relating to intellectual property rights. Legal standards relating to
the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights are uncertain, and many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal
systems of certain countries do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protection, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement, misappropriation or other violation of our intellectual
property. Policing unauthorized use, infringement, misappropriation and other violation of our trade secrets and other intellectual property is difficult and we may not always be aware of such unauthorized use or misappropriation. Litigation brought
to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights could be costly, time consuming and distracting to management and could result in the impairment or loss of portions of our intellectual property. As a result, we may be aware of infringement by
our competitors but may choose not to bring litigation to protect our intellectual property rights due to the cost, time and distraction of bringing such litigation. Furthermore, if we do decide to bring litigation, our efforts to enforce our
intellectual property rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims and countersuits challenging or opposing our right to use and otherwise exploit particular intellectual property or the enforceability of our intellectual property rights.
Furthermore, many of our current and potential competitors may have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to developing and protecting their technology or intellectual property rights than we do. Any of the foregoing could adversely
affect our continued operations and financial condition.
Third parties may claim that we are infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating their intellectual property rights, which may prevent or inhibit our operations and
cause us to suffer significant litigation expense even if these claims have no merit.
Our commercial success depends, in part, on our ability to operate without undue cost and distraction of claims that we are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of third
parties. However, third parties may own patents (or have pending patent applications that later result in patents) or other intellectual property that our operations may infringe, or those parties may believe our operations infringe. In addition,
third parties may purchase patents for the purpose of asserting claims of infringement and attempting to extract license fees from us via settlements. There also could be patents or other intellectual property that we believe we do not infringe, but
that we may ultimately be found to infringe. Further, because patents can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending applications of which we are unaware that may later result in issued patents that our operations infringe.
Third parties could also accuse us of misappropriating their trade secrets. Any claims of patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, or other infringement, misappropriation or violation of intellectual property
rights, even claims without merit, settled out of court or determined in our favor, could be costly and time-consuming to defend and could require us to divert resources away from operations. In addition, if any third party has a meritorious or
successful claim that we are infringing their intellectual property, we may be forced to redesign our operations or secure a license from such third parties, which may be costly or impractical. The outcome of any litigation is inherently uncertain,
and there can be no assurances that favorable final outcomes will be obtained in all cases. In addition, during the course of litigation there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions, or other interim proceedings or
developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be adverse, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our Ordinary shares. If we cannot license or develop an alternative for any infringing aspect of our
business we also may be subject to significant damages or injunctions that may cause a material adverse effect to our business and operations, result in a material loss in revenue and adversely affect the trading price of our Ordinary shares and harm
our investors.
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Ordinary Shares
The market price of our Ordinary shares may be highly volatile.
The market price of our Ordinary shares has been volatile and is likely to continue to fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, including the
performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations similar to ours as well as the fluctuation in the market price of Bitcoin and other digital assets. In addition, technology stocks have historically
experienced high levels of volatility. In calendar year 2022, there was a significant downturn in the market price of Bitcoin and other digital assets, as well as many technology stocks including ours. The market price for our Ordinary shares may be
influenced by many factors, including:
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actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial and operating results;
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the trading price of digital assets, in particular Bitcoin;
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changes in the market valuations of our competitors;
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rumors, publicity, and market speculation involving us, our management, our competitors, or our industry;
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announcements of new investments, new products, services or solutions, capital raising initiatives, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, capital commitments, integrations or capabilities, technologies, or innovations by us
or our competitors;
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changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;
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changes in laws or regulations applicable to us or our industry;
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the perception of our industry by the public, legislatures, regulators and the investment community;
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additions or departures of key personnel;
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potential litigation or regulatory investigations;
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general economic, industry, political and market conditions and overall market volatility, including resulting from COVID-19, war, incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events;
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sales of our Ordinary shares by us, our directors and officers, holders of our Ordinary shares or our shareholders in the future or the anticipation that such sales may occur in the future; and
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the trading volume of our Ordinary shares on the Nasdaq.
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Broad market and industry factors may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary shares, regardless of our actual operating performance. Further, a decline in the financial markets and related factors beyond our
control may cause the price of our Ordinary shares to decline rapidly and unexpectedly.
Investing in our Ordinary shares could be subject to greater volatility than investing directly in Bitcoin or other digital assets.
The price of our securities and our competitors’ securities has been generally correlated to the price of Bitcoin and other digital assets. However, our business is subject to costs, which also affect the price of our
securities, such as hardware expenses, power expenses and other factors that are not directly reflected in the prices of digital assets we mine. For example, when the price of Bitcoin rises, mining machines may become scarce and more costly to
acquire, making our existing operations more attractive. However, when the price of Bitcoin declines, our mining revenues may not exceed our operating costs. As a result, the price of our Ordinary shares could be subject to greater volatility than
direct investments in digital assets and an investment in our Ordinary shares may result in losses.
If securities or industry analysts cease to publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding the Ordinary shares, our
Ordinary share price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our Ordinary shares is influenced by research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more
analysts who cover us downgrade our Ordinary shares, or adversely change their recommendations regarding the Ordinary shares, the market price for our Ordinary shares would likely decline. Having become a listed public company in November 2021, we
have only limited research coverage. Equity research analysts may elect not to provide research coverage of our Ordinary shares, and such lack of coverage may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary shares.
Future sales, or the possibility of future sales, of a substantial number of our Ordinary shares could adversely affect the price of our Ordinary shares.
Future sales of a substantial number of our Ordinary shares, or the perception that such sales will occur, could cause a decline in the market price of
our Ordinary shares. As of June 30, 2023, we had 66,701,526 Ordinary shares outstanding. Ordinary shares, other than those held by our directors, officers, shareholders owning 10% or more of our outstanding shares or other relevant holders whose
Ordinary shares are subject to a lock-up and/or trading restriction (for example, employees), may be resold in the public market immediately without restriction, and those shares held by our directors, officers, shareholders owning 10% or more of
our outstanding shares or other relevant holders whose Ordinary shares are subject to a lock-up and/or trading restriction (for example, employees) may be eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by Rule 144 and Rule 701 of
the Securities Act or immediately resold upon the relevant lock-up and/or trading restriction being lifted (as applicable). If our shareholders sell substantial amounts of Ordinary shares in the public market, or the market perceives that such
sales may occur, the market price of our Ordinary shares and our ability to raise capital through an issue of equity securities in the future could be adversely affected.
In addition, the exercise of options to purchase Ordinary shares and the issue of Ordinary shares on vesting of restricted share units granted to our directors, officers and employees under our current and future share
incentive plans could lead to a dilution of the economic and voting interests of existing shareholders which could adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary shares. Furthermore, a proposal to the shareholder meeting to take any of the
abovementioned measures with dilutive effects on the existing shareholdings, or any announcement thereof, could adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary shares.
Additionally, on September 23, 2022, we entered into a share purchase agreement with B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC to establish a committed equity facility, pursuant to which we may issue additional Ordinary shares
from time to time. If we sell a substantial number of shares under such program, or otherwise issue any equity or equity-linked securities to finance our business, the market price of our Ordinary shares may be adversely affected.
Because of their significant ownership of our Ordinary shares, and their ownership of all outstanding B Class shares, our founders and Co-Chief Executive Officers have substantial
control over our business, and their interests may differ from our interests or those of our other shareholders.
Our co-founders and Co-Chief Executive Officers, Daniel Roberts and William Roberts, and their affiliates, hold in the aggregate 73.7% of
the voting power of our capital shares as of August 31, 2023.
As a result of this ownership or control of our voting securities, if our co-founders and Co-Chief Executive Officers act together, they will have control over the outcome of substantially all matters submitted to our
shareholders for approval, including the election of directors. This may delay or prevent an acquisition or cause the public price of our Ordinary shares to decline. Our co-founders may have interests different from yours. Therefore, the
concentration of voting power among our co-founders may have an adverse effect on the price of our Ordinary shares.
The dual class structure of our shares (Ordinary shares and B Class shares) will have the effect of concentrating voting control with certain
shareholders, in particular, Daniel Roberts and William Roberts, who hold in the aggregate 73.7% of the voting power of our capital shares as of August 31, 2023. This ownership will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters,
including the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, remuneration, and any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction requiring shareholder approval.
Our B Class shares entitle its holders to fifteen votes per Ordinary share held by the holder, and our Ordinary shares have one vote per Ordinary share
held. Our co-founders and Co-Chief Executive Officers, Daniel Roberts and William Roberts, and their affiliates hold in the aggregate 73.7% of the voting power of our capital shares as of June 30, 2023. Because each B Class share is entitled to
fifteen votes for every Ordinary share held by the holder of such B Class share, the holders of our B Class shares collectively could continue to control a majority of the combined voting power of our shares and therefore be able to control all
matters submitted to our shareholders for approval until the redemption of the B Class shares by the Company on the earlier of (i) when the individual founder associated with the holder ceases to be a director due to voluntary retirement; (ii) an
unremedied transfer of B Class shares in breach of our Constitution; (iii) liquidation or winding up of the Company; or (iv) November 17, 2033. Holders of our Ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote separately as a single class except under
certain limited circumstances. This concentrated control will limit or preclude shareholders’ ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future, including the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, and
any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction requiring shareholder approval. In addition, this may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our capital
shares that you may believe are in your best interest as one of our shareholders.
The multi-class structure of our shares may adversely affect the trading market for our Ordinary shares.
Certain stock index providers, such as S&P Dow Jones, exclude companies with multiple classes of shares from being added to certain stock indices, including the S&P 500. In addition, several shareholder advisory
firms and large institutional investors oppose the use of multiple class structures. As a result, the multi-class structure of our shares may prevent the inclusion of our Ordinary shares in such indices, may cause shareholder advisory firms to
publish negative commentary about our corporate governance practices or otherwise seek to cause us to change our capital structure, and may result in large institutional investors not purchasing our Ordinary shares. Any exclusion from stock indices
could result in a less active trading market for our Ordinary shares. Any actions or publications by shareholder advisory firms or institutional investors critical of our corporate governance practices or capital structure could also adversely affect
the value of our Ordinary shares. Additionally, our B Class shares are not transferable by the holder (other than to an affiliate of that holder).
Risks Related to Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We currently report our financial results under IFRS, which differs from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP.
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, intangible
assets, 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.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the U.S. securities laws and are permitted to file less information with the SEC than a U.S. company.
We are a foreign private issuer as defined in the SEC’s rules and regulations and, consequently, we are not subject to all of the disclosure requirements applicable to public companies organized within the United States.
For example, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that regulate disclosure obligations and procedural requirements related to the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations applicable to a security registered under the
Exchange Act, including the U.S. proxy rules under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, our senior management and directors are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and
related rules with respect to their purchases and sales of our securities. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. public companies whose securities are
registered under the Exchange Act and we are not required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act. In addition, foreign private issuers are not required to file their annual report on Form 20-F
until four months after the end of each fiscal year. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information concerning us than there would be if we were not a foreign private issuer.
Furthermore, our shares are not listed, and we do not currently intend to list our shares, on any market in Australia, our country of incorporation. As a result, we are not subject to the reporting and other requirements
of listed companies in Australia, other than those requirements that apply to Australian companies generally. Accordingly, there will be less publicly available information concerning our company than there would be if we were a public company
organized in the United States.
As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate
governance listing standards and these practices may not afford the same protection to shareholders as Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
As a foreign private issuer listed on Nasdaq, we are permitted to follow Australia corporate law and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“Corporations Act”) with regard to certain
aspects of corporate governance in lieu of certain requirements under the Nasdaq listing standards. Some corporate governance practices under Australian law and the Corporations Act may differ from Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
For example, we are exempt from Nasdaq regulations that require a listed U.S. company to:
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require non-management directors to meet on a regular basis without management present;
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promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers that should address certain specified items;
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have an independent compensation committee;
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have an independent nominating committees;
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solicit proxies and provide proxy statements for all shareholder meetings; and
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seek shareholder approval for the implementation of certain equity compensation plans and issuances of Ordinary shares.
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Currently, we generally follow home country practice. Therefore, our shareholders may not be afforded the same protection under corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. For an overview
of our corporate governance practices, see “Item 16G. Corporate Governance—Foreign Private Issuer Status.”
We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional cost and expense.
While we currently qualify as a foreign private issuer, the determination of foreign private issuer status is made annually on the last business day of an issuer’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter and,
accordingly, our next determination will be made on December 31, 2023. In the future, we would lose our foreign private issuer status if we fail to meet the requirements necessary to maintain our foreign private issuer status as of the relevant
determination date. For example, if 50% or more of our securities are held by U.S. residents and more than 50% of our senior management or directors are residents or citizens of the United States, we could lose our foreign private issuer status.
The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly more than costs we incur as a foreign private issuer. If we are not a foreign private issuer, we will be
required to file periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are more detailed and extensive in certain respects than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. We would be required under
current SEC rules to modify certain of our policies to comply with corporate governance practices required of U.S. domestic issuers and to prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP rather than IFRS. Such conversion of our
financial statements to U.S. GAAP would involve significant time and cost. In addition, we may lose our ability to rely upon exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements on U.S. stock exchanges that are available to foreign private
issuers such as the ones described above and exemptions from procedural requirements related to the solicitation of proxies.
We are an Australian public company with limited liability. The rights of our shareholders may be different from the rights of shareholders in companies governed by the laws of
U.S. jurisdictions and may not protect investors in the same similar fashion afforded by incorporation in a U.S. jurisdiction.
We are a public company with limited liability organized under the laws of Australia. Our corporate affairs are governed by our Constitution and the Corporations Act. A further summary of applicable Australian
corporations law and our Constitution is contained in “Item 10. Additional Information—Memorandum and Articles of Association” and Exhibit 2.1 “Description of Securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
“Exchange Act”)” of this annual report. However, there can be no assurance that Australian law will not change in the future or that it will serve to protect investors in the same fashion afforded under corporate law principles in the United States,
which could adversely affect the rights of investors.
The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of directors under Australian law may be different from the rights and obligations of shareholders and directors in companies governed by the laws of U.S.
jurisdictions. In the performance of their duties, our board of directors is required by Australian law to act in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole, including with due observation of the principles of good faith,
reasonable care and diligence.
Provisions in our organizational documents or Australian corporate law might delay or prevent acquisition bids for our company or other change of control transactions that might
be considered favorable.
Under Australian law, various protective measures to prevent change of control transactions are possible and permissible within the boundaries set by Australian corporate law and Australian case law, in particular under
Chapter 6 of the Corporations Act and takeovers policy which regulates the takeovers of Australian public companies. Certain provisions of our Constitution may have the effect of delaying or preventing a
merger, acquisition, tender offer, takeover attempt or other change of control transaction that a shareholder might consider to be in its best interest, including attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of our Ordinary shares
(for example, through the enhanced voting control rights attached to B Class shares and the proportional takeover provisions in the Constitution).
These provisions could make it more difficult or less attractive for a third-party to acquire us or a controlling stake in us, even if the third-party’s offer may be considered beneficial by many of our shareholders. As
a result, our shareholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares.
Acquisitions of shares in the Company may be subject to review and approval by the Australian Federal Treasurer under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth).
Under Australian law, certain acquisitions of shares in the Company may be subject to approval by the Australian Federal Treasurer under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975
(Cth) (“FATA”). Typically, such approval will not be required unless a non-Australian person or entity proposes to acquire a substantial interest in 20% or more of the shares in the Company (unless such person or entity is a foreign government
investor).
If applicable thresholds are met, the Australian Federal Treasurer may prevent a proposed acquisition or impose conditions on such acquisition if satisfied that the acquisition would be contrary to the national interest.
If a foreign person acquires shares or an interest in shares in an Australian company in contravention of the FATA, the Australian Federal Treasurer may make a range of orders including an order of the divestiture of such person’s shares or interest
in shares in that Australian company.
The ability of shareholders to bring actions or enforce judgments against us or our directors and executive officers may be limited. Claims of U.S. civil liabilities may not be
enforceable against us.
We are incorporated under the laws of Australia and the majority of our directors reside outside the United States. The majority of our assets and those of our directors are located outside the United States. It may not
be possible, or may be costly or time consuming, for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our non-U.S. resident directors or executive officers or to collect and enforce judgments obtained against us or our
directors and executive officers in the United States, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. There may also be reasons why, even if a process within the United States
is served upon us or our directors and executive officers, proceedings in the United States are stayed or otherwise do not proceed. This may be in favor of proceedings in Australia or other jurisdictions instead of the United States, or in the
absence of any other proceedings.
If a judgment is obtained in a U.S. court against us or our directors you may need to enforce such judgment in jurisdictions where we or the relevant director have assets (which may be outside the U.S.). As a result, it
could be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals outside of the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the applicable securities laws or otherwise.
Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws outside of the United States could render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of its directors.
There is currently no treaty between the United States and Australia for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, 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 U.S. federal securities laws, would not be automatically recognized or enforceable in Australia. An Australian court may,
subject to compliance with certain procedural and legal requirements, recognize and give effect to the judgment if (generally speaking) you are able to prove in an Australian court: (a) the U.S. Court exercised a jurisdiction (in the relevant sense)
recognized by Australian courts; (b) the U.S. judgment is final and conclusive; (c) the identity of the parties is clear; and (d) the U.S. judgment is for a fixed debt. Australian courts may deny the recognition and enforcement of punitive damages or
other awards. If an Australian court upholds and regards as conclusive evidence the final judgment of the U.S. court, the Australian court will not generally require a re-litigation on the merits, though there may be other reasons why this becomes
necessary which may significantly increase the time and cost of enforcing judgment. An Australian court may also refuse to enforce a U.S. judgment, in which case you may be required to re-litigate any claim before an Australian court.
Similar considerations may apply to other jurisdictions where we or the relevant director has assets which may raise similar difficulties in enforcing a U.S. judgment in those jurisdictions.
Australian insolvency laws are substantially different from U.S. insolvency laws and may offer our shareholders less protection than they would have under U.S. insolvency laws.
As a company with its registered office in Australia, we are subject to Australian insolvency laws and may also be subject to the insolvency laws of other jurisdictions in which we conduct business or have assets. These
laws may apply in the event any insolvency proceedings or procedures are initiated against us. This includes, among other things, any moratorium ordered or declared in respect of any indebtedness of us, any formal demand for us to pay our debts as
and when they fall due, any admission by us that we are unable to pay its debts as and when they fall due, any composition or arrangement with creditors, or any corporate action or proceeding in relation to the winding-up, dissolution,
deregistration, administration or reorganization of, or the appointment of an administrator, controller, liquidator, receiver, manager or other insolvency practitioner to, us.
Insolvency laws in Australia and other jurisdictions may offer our shareholders less protection than they would have under U.S. insolvency laws and may make it more difficult (or even impossible) for them to recover the
amount they could expect to recover in a liquidation under U.S. insolvency laws.
Shareholder liability is, generally speaking, limited to unpaid amount on shares, but there are exceptions which may apply. Liquidators and other external administrators may also be entitled to recover any amounts which
may be distributed or paid to shareholders for the benefit of creditors. Shareholders may be unlikely to recover any amounts unless and until all creditors are paid in full, which may be unlikely should we become insolvent, or be placed into
liquidation or external administration. Shareholders may also be prevented from commencing any court action or proceedings against us and may also be the subject of binding agreement or orders without consent. Any rights shareholders may have against
us or our directors may be extinguished through the operation of insolvency laws in particular jurisdictions.
Some claims against directors or other third parties may be for our benefit, which may require permission of local courts to pursue and may also lead to any judgment or award requiring payment to us and in turn to our
creditors. It should also be noted that certain creditors may enjoy particular priorities in particular jurisdictions (for example, employees and secured creditors), other creditors may not be entitled to any distribution as a creditor in particular
jurisdictions (for example, where a creditor’s claim is rejected in the particular jurisdiction), and generally speaking unsecured creditors are paid out evenly in proportion to their claims. This may materially impact any recovery shareholders
receive should we become insolvent.
Risks Related to Taxation
Future developments regarding the treatment of digital assets for U.S. federal income and foreign tax purposes could adversely impact our business.
Due to the new and evolving nature of digital assets and the absence of comprehensive legal guidance with respect to digital asset products and transactions, many significant aspects of the U.S. federal income and
foreign tax treatment of transactions involving digital assets are uncertain, and it is unclear what guidance may be issued in the future on the treatment of digital asset transactions for U.S. federal income and foreign tax purposes.
In 2014, the IRS released a notice, or “IRS Notice,” discussing certain aspects of “convertible virtual currency” (that is, digital currency that has an equivalent value in fiat currency or that acts as a substitute for
fiat currency) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, in particular, stating that such digital currency (i) is “property”; (ii) is not “currency” for purposes of the rules relating to foreign currency gain or loss and (iii) may be held as a
capital asset. The IRS has subsequently released two revenue rulings and a set of “Frequently Asked Questions," or the "Rulings & FAQs,” that provide some additional guidance, including guidance to the effect that, under certain circumstances,
hard forks of digital currencies are taxable events giving rise to ordinary income, guidance with respect to the determination of the tax basis of digital currency and guidance that rewards from staking will constitute current taxable income.
However, the IRS Notice and the Rulings & FAQs do not address other significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of digital assets and related transactions.
There can be no assurance that the IRS or other foreign tax authorities will not alter their existing positions with respect to digital
assets in the future or that a court would uphold the treatment set forth in the IRS Notice and the Rulings & FAQs. It is also unclear what additional guidance may be issued in the future on the treatment of existing digital asset transactions
and future digital asset innovations for purposes of U.S. federal income tax or other foreign tax regulations. Any such alteration of existing IRS and other foreign tax authority positions or additional guidance regarding digital asset products and
transactions could result in adverse tax consequences for our business and could have an adverse effect on the value of digital assets and the broader digital asset markets. In addition, the IRS and other foreign tax authorities may disagree with
tax positions that we have taken, which could result in increased tax liabilities. Future technological and operational developments that may arise with respect to digital assets may increase the uncertainty with respect to the treatment of digital
assets for U.S. federal income and foreign tax purposes. The uncertainty regarding tax treatment of digital asset transactions could impact our business, both domestically and abroad. Moreover, it is likely that new rules for reporting digital assets under the “crypto-asset reporting framework” will be implemented on our international operations, creating new obligations and a need to invest in new onboarding and reporting infrastructure. The U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS also recently released proposed regulations that would create new reporting requirements for digital assets, which may impose new requirements on us.
The Canadian government has modified its value added tax legislation specifically in relation to Canadian entities that are involved in Bitcoin-related activities and their associated suppliers. These legislative
changes have the potential to eliminate the recovery of value added tax in Canada on inputs to our business. Any such, unrecoverable value added tax may act to increase the cost of all inputs to our business in Canada including electricity, capital
equipment, services and intellectual property acquired by our subsidiaries that operate in Canada. We are currently evaluating the application of this legislative change to Iris Energy. We are currently subject to audits and an administrative appeal
relating to Canadian value added tax credits, which could reduce the amount of certain input tax credits we are able to recover for certain historical periods as well as going forward. See Note 18 to our audited financial statements for the year
ended June 30, 2023 included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax
consequences to U.S. investors.
Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), we will be classified as a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”) for any taxable year if either: (a) at least 75% of our gross income is “passive
income” for purposes of the PFIC rules or (b) at least 50% of the value of our assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, passive
income includes interest, dividends and other investment income, with certain exceptions. Cash and cash-equivalents generally are passive assets for these purposes, and digital assets are likely to be passive assets for these purposes as well.
Goodwill is active to the extent attributable to activities that produce or are intended to produce active income. The PFIC rules also contain a look-through rule whereby we will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the gross assets and
earning our proportionate share of the gross income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the stock.
Based on the current and anticipated composition of our income, assets and operations and the price of our Ordinary shares, we do not
expect to be treated as a PFIC for the current taxable year. However, whether we are treated as a PFIC is a factual determination that is made on an annual basis after the close of each taxable year. This determination will depend on, among other
things, the ownership and the composition of our income and assets, as well as the relative value of our assets (which may fluctuate with our market capitalization), at the relevant time. Under circumstances where our cash is not deployed for
active purposes, our risk of being a PFIC may increase. Fluctuations in the Company's market capitalization can also affect our PFIC status because the value of our
assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and unbooked intangibles, may be determined by reference to the market capitalization from time to time (which has been, and may continue to be, volatile). In particular,
there is a risk that we may be a PFIC in subsequent taxable years if there is a decline in the market capitalization and the value of our goodwill is determined by reference to our market capitalization. Moreover, the application of the PFIC rules
to digital assets and transactions related thereto is subject to uncertainty. Among other things, the IRS has issued limited guidance on the treatment of income from mining digital assets. The IRS or a court may disagree with our determinations,
including the manner in which we determine the value of our assets and the percentage of our assets that constitutes passive assets under the PFIC rules. Therefore
there can be no assurance that the Company will not be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or for any future taxable year.
For further discussion of the PFIC rules and the adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences in the event we are classified as a PFIC, see Item 10. Additional Information “Taxation-Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations.”
If a United States person is treated as owning at least 10% of our Ordinary shares, such holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
If a U.S. holder is treated as owning, directly, indirectly or constructively, at least 10% of the value or voting power of our stock,
such U.S. holder may be treated as a “United States shareholder” with respect to each “controlled foreign corporation” (“CFC”) in our group. Because our group includes U.S. subsidiaries, some or all of our non-U.S. subsidiaries will be treated as
CFCs even if we are not a CFC. A United States shareholder of a CFC may be required to annually report and include in its U.S. taxable income its pro rata share of “Subpart F income,” “global intangible low-taxed income” and investments in U.S.
property by CFCs, regardless of whether we make any distributions. An individual that is a United States shareholder with respect to a CFC generally would not be allowed certain tax deductions or foreign tax credits that would be allowed to a
United States shareholder of a U.S. corporation. Failure to comply with CFC reporting obligations may subject a United States shareholder to significant monetary penalties.
We cannot provide any assurances that we will furnish to any United States shareholder information that may be necessary to comply with the reporting and taxpaying obligations applicable under the controlled foreign
corporation rules of the Code. The IRS has provided limited guidance on situations in which investors may rely on publicly available information to comply with their reporting and taxpaying obligations with respect to foreign-controlled CFCs. U.S.
shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of these rules to their investment in our Ordinary shares.
Future changes to tax laws could materially adversely affect our company and reduce net returns to our shareholders.
Our tax treatment is subject to the enactment of, or changes in, tax laws, regulations and treaties, or the interpretation thereof, tax policy initiatives and reforms under consideration and the practices of tax
authorities in jurisdictions in which we operate, including those related to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project, the European Commission’s state aid investigations and other
initiatives. Such changes may include (but are not limited to) the taxation of operating income, investment income, dividends received or (in the specific context of withholding tax) dividends paid. We are unable to predict what tax reform may be
proposed or enacted in the future or what effect such changes would have on our business. Changes to the rates of taxes imposed on us or our affiliates, or changes to tax legislation, regulations, policies or practices, generally in any of the
jurisdictions in which we or our affiliates operate, may adversely impact our financial position and/or performance and overall or effective tax rates in the future in countries where we have operations, reduce post-tax returns to our shareholders,
and increase the complexity, burden and cost of tax compliance. In addition, an interpretation of relevant taxation laws by a taxation authority that differs to our interpretation may lead to an increase in our taxation liabilities.
General Risk Factors
We are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act and will avail ourselves of reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and utilize certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,”
including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“SOX”), 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. In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can utilize the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act,
for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, this transition period is only applicable under U.S. GAAP. As a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is
required or permitted by the International Accounting Standards Board.
We cannot predict if investors will find our Ordinary shares less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find the Ordinary shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active
trading market for the Ordinary shares and the price of the Ordinary shares may be more volatile. We may utilize these exemptions until such 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 more than $1.235 billion in annual revenue; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we qualify as a “large accelerated filer”; (iii) the date on which we have, during
the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and (iv) June 30, 2027.
Requirements associated with being a public company in the United States require significant company resources and management attention.
As a public company, we are subject to certain reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and other rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq. We are also subject to
various other regulatory requirements, including SOX, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Other applicable securities rules and regulations, such as Australian laws and regulations, also impose various requirements on
public companies (including companies listed on the Nasdaq), including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices.
The expenses incurred by public companies generally for reporting and corporate governance purposes have been increasing. We have hired or intend to hire additional accounting, finance, compliance and other personnel or
engage external consultants in connection with our efforts to comply with the requirements of being a public company and our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time towards maintaining compliance with these
requirements. These requirements increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, we expect that the rules and regulations applicable to us as a public company may make it
increasingly more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to
obtain the same or similar coverage. These laws and regulations could also make it increasingly more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors and committees, or as executive officers.
These rules and regulations are often 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 new guidance is provided
by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. Furthermore, if we are unable to satisfy our
obligations as a public company, we could be subject to delisting of our Ordinary shares, fines, sanctions and other regulatory action and potentially civil litigation.
If we fail to implement effective internal controls over financial reporting, such failure could result in material misstatements in our financial statements, cause investors to
lose confidence in our reported financial and other public information and have an adverse effect on the trading price of our Ordinary shares.
Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure
to identify and remediate control deficiencies, or to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations.
We are a public company in the United States subject to SOX. Section 404(a) of SOX (“Section 404”) requires management of public companies to develop and implement internal controls over financial reporting and evaluate
the effectiveness thereof. We are required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures and our management is required to assess the effectiveness of these controls annually. This assessment includes disclosure of any material
weaknesses identified by our management in its internal controls over financial reporting. However, for as long as we are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm will not be
required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of SOX, which would otherwise be applicable beginning with the second annual report following the effectiveness of the registration
statement related to our IPO. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls by our registered public accounting could detect past or future problems that our management’s assessment might not. Any testing by us conducted in
connection with Section 404 of SOX, or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may
require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify areas for further attention or improvement. In particular, undetected past or future material weaknesses in our internal controls could lead to financial statement
restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation and the trading price of the Ordinary shares may be adversely affected. We may also not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial
reporting in accordance with Section 404 or may not be able to remediate some of the identified deficiencies in time to meet the deadline imposed by SOX for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. For further information, see “Item 15.
Controls and Procedures”
The process of designing, implementing and maintaining effective internal controls is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments
and to expend significant resources to maintain a system of internal controls that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations as a public company. If we fail to design, implement and maintain effective internal controls and financial reporting
procedures, it could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report our results of operations and result in material misstatements in our financial statements, impair our ability to raise revenue, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanctions
and cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which in turn could have an adverse effect on the business and the trading price of our Ordinary shares. Additionally, ineffective internal control over financial reporting
could result in deficiencies that are deemed material weaknesses, and any such material weaknesses could result in our failure to detect a material misstatement of our annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements or disclosures. Ineffective
internal control over financial reporting could also expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the stock exchange on which we list, regulatory investigations, civil or criminal
sanctions and lawsuits. In addition, our internal controls over financial reporting does not prevent or detect all errors or fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that
the control system’s objectives will be met. Because of the inherent limitations in all internal control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control
issues and instances of fraud will be detected.
There is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on our ability to continue as a going concern.
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 included an explanatory paragraph on Going Concern Uncertainty, expressing management’s
assessment and conclusion that there is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on our ability to continue as a going concern. As further background, the Group's miners are designed specifically to mine Bitcoin and its future success
will depend in a large part upon the value of Bitcoin, and any sustained decline in its value could adversely affect the business and results of operations. Specifically, the revenues from Bitcoin mining operations are predominantly based upon two
factors: (i) the number of Bitcoin rewards that are successfully mined and (ii) the value of Bitcoin. A decline in the market price of Bitcoin, increases in the difficulty of Bitcoin mining, changes in the regulatory environment, the halving event
expected in Q4 FY2024 and/or adverse changes in other inherent risks would significantly negatively impact the Group’s operations. Due to the volatility of the Bitcoin price and the effects of the other aforementioned factors, there can be no
guarantee that future mining operations will be profitable.
We believe that the inclusion of a going concern explanatory paragraph in the report of our registered public accounting firm will make it more difficult for us to secure additional financing or enter into strategic
relationships on terms acceptable to us, if at all, and likely will materially and adversely affect the terms of any financing that we might obtain. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability
and classification of recorded asset amounts or amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
We do not currently anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, shareholders need to be prepared to rely on capital
appreciation, if any, for any return on their investment.
We have never declared nor paid cash dividends on our Ordinary shares and we currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. As a result, capital appreciation, if
any, of our Ordinary shares may be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.
We are the subject of a putative securities class action, and could become subject to future litigation, including individual and class action lawsuits, as well as investigations
and enforcement actions by regulators and governmental authorities.
On December 14, 2022, a putative securities class action complaint naming the Company and certain of its directors and officers was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. An amended complaint in
this action was filed on June 6, 2023, also naming as defendants the Company and certain of its directors and officers, as well as the underwriters of the Company’s IPO.
The amended complaint asserts claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 on behalf of a putative class of all persons and
entities who purchased or otherwise acquired (a) Iris ordinary shares pursuant and/or traceable to documents issued in connection with the Company’s IPO and/or (b) Iris securities between November 17, 2021 and November 1, 2022, both dates inclusive.
It contends that certain statements made by the Company and certain of its officers and directors, including in the Company’s IPO Registration Statement and Prospectus, were allegedly false or misleading and seeks unspecified damages on behalf of the
putative class. The Company believes these claims are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on August 4, 2023. Any such litigation could result in substantial costs
defending the lawsuit and a diversion of management’s attention and resources and, if we are not successful in defending any such litigation, could result in judgments against us. Any of the foregoing could harm our business and financial condition
as well as our reputation.
In addition, we may from time to time in the future become subject to additional claims, arbitrations, individual and class action lawsuits, government and regulatory and regulatory investigations, inquiries, actions or
requests, including with respect to employment matters, and other proceedings alleging violations of laws, rules and regulations, both foreign and domestic. The scope, determination and impact of claims, lawsuits, government and regulatory
investigations, enforcement actions, disputes and proceedings to which we are subject cannot be predicted with certainty, and may result in:
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substantial payments to satisfy judgments, fines or penalties, or substantial settlement payments;
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substantial external counsel legal fees and other costs;
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additional compliance and licensure requirements;
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loss or non-renewal of existing licenses or authorizations, or prohibition from or delays in obtaining additional licenses or authorizations, required for our business;
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loss of productivity and high demands on employee time;
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criminal sanctions or consent decrees;
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termination of certain employees, including members of our executive team;
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barring of certain employees from participating in our business in whole or in part;
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orders that restrict or suspend our business or prevent us from offering certain products or services;
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changes to our business model and practices;
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delays and/or interruptions to planned transactions, product launches or improvements; and
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damage to our brand and reputation.
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Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, and could cause the market value of our Ordinary shares to decline.
| ITEM 4. |
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
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Our History
We were originally incorporated under the laws of New South Wales, Australia, on November 6, 2018 as “Iris Energy Pty Ltd” an Australian proprietary company (ACN 629 842 799). On October 7, 2021, we converted into a
public company named “Iris Energy Limited” under Australian law.
Our Initial Public Offering
On November 16, 2021, the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No 333-260488) relating to the IPO of our Ordinary shares was declared effective by the SEC. On November 19, 2021, we closed our IPO, pursuant to
which we issued and sold 8,269,231 Ordinary shares. Our Ordinary shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on November 17, 2021, under the symbol “IREN.”
Capital Expenditures and Divestitures
The majority of our historical capital expenditures have been directed to building data centers and electrical infrastructure, and acquiring miners
including the Antminer S19j Pro. Our capital expenditures during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 were principally for purchasing miners and building data centers and electrical infrastructure that we own and operate. Our capital expenditures,
including prepayments for mining hardware, were $119.5 million, $332.2 million and $82.6 million for the
fiscal years ended June 30, 2023, June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at Level 12, 44 Market Street, Sydney, Australia, and our telephone number is +61 2 7906 8301. Our agent
for service of process in the United States is Cogency Global Inc., 122 E. 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10168. We maintain a website at https://irisenergy.co/. Information on our website is not incorporated by
reference into or otherwise part of this annual report. Our annual reports on Form 20-F, current reports on Form 6-K, amendments to these reports, and other information regarding
issuers that file electronically with the SEC, can be accessed, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Our Company
We are a leading owner and operator of institutional-grade, highly efficient proprietary data centers powered by 100% renewable energy (whether from clean or renewable energy sources or through the purchase of RECs). Our
operations currently generate revenue by mining Bitcoin and earning Bitcoin revenue through a combination of block rewards and transaction fees from the operation of our specialized computers called ASICs (which we refer to as “Bitcoin miners”) and
exchanging these Bitcoin for fiat currencies such as USD or CAD, typically on a daily basis.
We have been mining Bitcoin since 2019. We typically liquidate all the Bitcoin we mine daily and therefore did not have any Bitcoin held on our balance sheet as of June 30, 2023. To date we have utilized Kraken, a
U.S.-based digital asset trading platform, to liquidate the Bitcoin we mine. The mining pools that we utilize for the purposes of our Bitcoin mining transfer the Bitcoin that we have mined to Kraken on a daily basis. Such Bitcoin is then exchanged
for fiat currency on the Kraken exchange or via its over-the-counter trading desk.
Our growth strategies include exploring the potential diversification of our revenue streams into new markets. In particular, as previously announced in June 2023, we have revitalized our HPC strategy. We believe we may
be able to leverage our existing infrastructure and expertise to potentially expand into offering HPC solutions and explore targeting a broad range of industries and applications, such as AI/ML, scientific research and rendering.
Our Data Centers
We are a vertically integrated business, and own and operate our high voltage electrical infrastructure, data centers and Bitcoin mining hardware. We target development of data centers in regions where there are
low-cost, abundant and attractive renewable energy sources. We have ownership of our proprietary data centers and electrical infrastructure, including freehold and long-term leasehold land, which grants us more security and operational control over
our assets. We believe data center ownership also allows our business to benefit from more sustainable cash flows in comparison with businesses that rely upon third-party hosting services or short-term leases which may be subject to termination
rights, profit sharing arrangements and/or potential changes to contractual terms such as pricing. We assess opportunities to utilize our available data center capacity, including via potential third-party hosting and alternative revenue sources. We
also focus on grid-connected power access which we believe not only helps facilitate a more reliable, long-term supply of power, but also provides us with the ability to support the energy markets in which we operate (for example, through potential
participation in demand response, ancillary services provision and load management in deregulated markets such as Texas).
In January 2020, we acquired our first site in Canal Flats, located in British Columbia, Canada (“BC”), from PodTech Innovation Inc. and certain of its related parties. This site is our first operational site and has
been operating since 2019, and, as of August 31, 2023, has approximately 30MW of data center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 0.8 EH/s (assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro miners).
In addition, we have constructed data centers at our other BC sites in Mackenzie and Prince George. Our Mackenzie site has been operating since April 2022 and, as of August 31, 2023, has approximately 80MW of data center
capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 2.6 EH/s (assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro miners). Our Prince George site has been operating since September 2022 and, as of August 31, 2023,
has approximately 50MW of data center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 1.6 EH/s (assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro miners).
Each of our sites in British Columbia are connected to the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (“BC Hydro”) electricity transmission network and have been 100% powered by renewable energy since commencement of
operations (currently approximately 97% sourced from clean or renewable sources as reported by BC Hydro and approximately 3% accounted for by the purchase of RECs). Our contracts with BC Hydro have an initial term of one year and, unless terminated
at the end of the initial term, shall extend until terminated in accordance with the terms of the agreement upon six months notice.
We have commenced initial operations at our site in Childress (total potential power capacity of 600MW), located in the renewables-heavy Panhandle region of Texas, U.S. Our Childress site has been operating since April
2023 and, as of August 31, 2023, has approximately 20MW of data center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 0.6 EH/s (assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro miners). As of August 31,
2023, we have purchased RECs in respect of 100% of our energy consumption through to such date at our Childress site.
The construction of an additional 80MW of data centers for Phase 1 (first 100MW) at our Childress site (total potential power capacity of 600MW) is underway, which is expected to increase our potential hashrate capacity
to approximately 9.1 EH/s (assuming the purchase of Bitmain S19 XP miners and full utilization of such additional data center capacity).
Our near-term focus remains on data center construction, which is subject to funding and market conditions. Miners have not yet been purchased in respect of the Childress expansion beyond 20MW and we continue to monitor
the market for funding and purchase opportunities.
As of August 31, 2023, we have approximately 180MW of data center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 5.6 EH/s across our sites in BC and Texas.
Bitcoin Mining
Bitcoin is a scarce digital asset that is created and transmitted through the operation of a peer-to-peer network of computers running the Bitcoin software. The Bitcoin network allows people to exchange digital tokens,
called Bitcoin, which are recorded on a publicly distributed digital transaction ledger forming the Bitcoin blockchain, which contains the record of every Bitcoin transaction since the inception of Bitcoin. The Bitcoin network is decentralized,
meaning no central authority, bank or financial intermediary is required to create, transmit or determine the value of Bitcoin.
Miners earn Bitcoin by validating and verifying Bitcoin transactions, securing blocks of transactions and adding those blocks to the Bitcoin blockchain by using ASICs to solve a complex cryptographic algorithm known as
Secure Hash Algorithm 256 (“SHA-256”). Each unique block can be mined and added to the Bitcoin blockchain by only one miner. Once the miner mines the block, the rest of the network can verify and confirm the block to the blockchain. The successful
miner is remunerated with newly minted Bitcoins (known as the “block reward”) and transaction fees. Bitcoin miners will be able to continue earning block rewards through this process until 21 million Bitcoins have been mined, which reflects the total
fixed supply limit of Bitcoin. The Bitcoin network’s design regulates supply by only allowing a fixed number of Bitcoin to be mined each year and halving the number of block rewards paid to miners after approximately every four years. As a result of
the Bitcoin network’s limitations on mining, it is estimated that the final Bitcoin block reward will occur in 2140, at which time miners will be incentivized to maintain the network solely based on transaction fees. It is currently estimated that
approximately 20.6 million Bitcoin will have been mined by the year 2030.
Performance Metrics – Hashrate and Difficulty
In Bitcoin mining, the processing power of a miner is measured by its “hashrate” or “hashes per second.” “Hashrate” is the speed at which a miner can produce computations (“hashes”) using the Bitcoin network’s algorithm,
expressed in hashes per second. BTC.com estimates that the average hashrate of the entire Bitcoin network is approximately 398 EH/s, as of August 31, 2023.
An individual miner, such as our Company, has a hashrate measured across the total number of ASICs it deploys in its Bitcoin mining operations. Generally, a miner’s expected success rate in solving blocks and earning
Bitcoin over time is correlated with its total hashrate as a proportion of the global hashrate over the same period.
“Difficulty” is a measure of the relative complexity of the algorithmic solution required for a miner to mine a block and receive Bitcoins from the block reward and transaction fees. An increase in global hashrate will
temporarily result in shorter block times as the mining algorithm is solved faster-and vice versa if the global hashrate decreases. The Bitcoin network protocol adjusts the network difficulty every 2,016 blocks (approximately every two weeks) to
maintain a target block time of 10 minutes.
Mining Pools
As noted above, while an individual miner’s expected success rate in solving blocks and earning Bitcoin over time is correlated with its total hashrate as a proportion of the total estimated global hashrate, in the
short-term, there can be variability in a miner’s actual success rate (and therefore revenue) as the process is probabilistic. As such, miners like us typically aggregate their computing power with others by joining a global “mining pool.” Mining
pools generally pay out Bitcoin to participants daily based on a miner’s computing power contribution to the mining pool in return for a fee. This arrangement can reduce revenue variance and certain pools may even reward miners regardless of the
number of blocks the pool solves each day (i.e. the pool operator absorbs the daily variances).
As part of our mining operations, we contribute our hashrate to a global mining pool, subject to their terms of service. We currently use Antpool as our main mining pool service provider and we are subject to Antpool’s
User Service Agreement. There is no prescribed term for services under the User Service Agreement and Antpool reserves the right to limit, change, suspend or terminate all or part of its services to us at any time. Similarly, we also have the right
to terminate our use of Antpool’s services at any time. In simple terms, Antpool calculates and pays us our share of the statistically expected global Bitcoin reward, which is a function of: (a) our actual daily hashrate and (b) global network
difficulty (fixed approximately every two weeks and ultimately represents the average global hashrate based on block time for the prior period). Antpool pays us Bitcoin daily in arrears for our mathematically calculated share of global block rewards
(net of fees to Antpool) plus our share of global transaction fees. The Bitcoin are typically transferred to our exchange account on the same day and exchanged for fiat currencies such as USD or CAD on a daily basis. We may explore opportunities with
mining pools and we believe we have the ability to transition or change mining pools without material expense or delay. See “—Daily Exchange of Bitcoin” for further information.
Bitcoin Mining Economics
As of June 30, 2023, a successful Bitcoin miner earns a block reward of 6.25 Bitcoins plus transaction fees for each block added to the blockchain, which occurs approximately every 10 minutes and equates to 52,560 blocks
or 328,500 Bitcoins per year, excluding transaction fees. The block reward is programmed to halve to 3.125 Bitcoins and is expected to occur in approximately April 2024. The key economic drivers for Bitcoin mining are illustrated below.
The economics of Bitcoin mining are predominantly driven by:
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a miner’s proportionate share of the global hashrate;
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the block reward;
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the level of global transaction fees;
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the price of Bitcoin;
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the power consumption / efficiency of mining equipment;
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the reliability / efficiency of data center infrastructure;
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the cost of electricity; and
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other operating expenses, including employee and general and administrative costs.
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As noted above, the amount of block rewards paid to miners is on a fixed distribution schedule, resulting in the last block reward payout to occur in approximately 120 years, at which time miners will be incentivized to
maintain the network solely based on transaction fees.
Daily Exchange of Bitcoin
Because we typically exchange the Bitcoin we mine for fiat currency on a daily basis, we believe we have limited exposure to fluctuations in the value of Bitcoin with respect to the Bitcoin that we mine once we have
mined such Bitcoin. In addition, we typically withdraw fiat currency proceeds from Kraken on a daily basis utilizing Etana Custody, a third-party custodian, to facilitate the transfer of such proceeds to one or more of our banks or other financial
institutions. As a result, we have only limited amounts of Bitcoin and fiat currency with Kraken and Etana Custody at any time, and accordingly we believe we have limited exposure to potential risks related to excessive redemptions or withdrawals of
digital assets or fiat currencies from, or suspension of redemptions or withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies from, Kraken, Etana Custody or any other digital asset trading platform or custodian we may use in the future for purposes of
liquidating the Bitcoin we mine on a daily basis. However, if Kraken, Etana Custody or any such other digital asset trading platform or custodian suffers excessive redemptions or withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies, or suspends
redemptions or withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies, as applicable, any Bitcoin we have transferred to such platform that has not yet been exchanged for fiat currency, as well as any fiat currency that we have not yet withdrawn, as
applicable, would be at risk.
In addition, if any such event were to occur with respect to Kraken, Etana Custody or any such other digital asset trading platform or custodian we utilize to liquidate the Bitcoin we mine, we may be required to, or may
otherwise determine it is appropriate to, switch to an alternative digital asset trading platform and/or custodian, as applicable. We do not currently use any other digital asset trading platforms or custodians to liquidate the Bitcoin we mine. While
we expect to continue to utilize Kraken and Etana Custody, there are numerous alternative digital asset trading platforms that operate exchanges and/or over-the-counter trading desks with similar functionality to Kraken, and there are also several
alternative funds transfer arrangements for facilitating the transfer of fiat currency proceeds from Kraken either with or without the use of a third-party custodian. We may explore opportunities with alternative digital asset trading platforms,
over-the-counter trading desks and custodians, and believe we have the ability to switch to one or more alternative digital asset trading platforms and/or funds transfer arrangements to liquidate Bitcoin we mine and transfer the fiat currency
proceeds without material expense or delay. As a result, we do not believe our business is substantially dependent on the Kraken digital asset trading platform or Etana Custody third-party custodian services.
However, digital asset trading platforms and third-party custodians, including Kraken and Etana Custody, are subject to a number of risks outside our control which could impact our business. In particular, during any
intervening period in which we are switching digital asset trading platforms and/or third-party custodians, we could be exposed to credit risk with respect to any Bitcoin or fiat currency held by them. In addition, we could be exposed to fluctuations
in the value of Bitcoin with respect to the Bitcoin that we mine during such period or that was previously mined but has not yet been exchanged for fiat currency. See "—Disruptions at over-the-counter (“OTC”) trading desks and potential consequences
of an OTC trading desk’s failure could adversely affect our business. We may be required to, or may otherwise determine it is appropriate to, switch to an alternative digital asset trading platform and/or custodian, "“—Digital asset trading platforms
for Bitcoin may be subject to varying levels of regulation, which exposes our digital asset holdings to risks” and “—We may temporarily store our Bitcoin on digital asset trading platforms which could subject our Bitcoin to the risk of loss or
access” under “—Risk Factors” for further information.
Our Business Strengths
Vertical integration – Long-term security over infrastructure, land and power supply
We have ownership of our proprietary data centers and electrical infrastructure, including freehold and long-term leasehold land. We believe this provides us with more security and operational control over our assets.
We believe data center ownership also allows our business to benefit from more sustainable cash flows in comparison with miners that rely upon third-party hosting services or short-term land leases which may be subject
to termination rights, profit sharing arrangements and/or potential changes to contractual terms such as pricing.
We also focus on grid-connected power access which we believe not only helps facilitate a more reliable, long-term supply of power, but also provides us with the ability to support the energy markets in which we operate
(for example, through potential participation in demand response, ancillary services provision and load management in deregulated markets such as Texas).
Vertical integration – Operations and maintenance
We believe it is important to retain control and operational oversight of our data centers, rather than outsourcing to a third-party provider who may not be aligned to our objectives.
As both the owner and operator of our hardware and infrastructure, we are directly incentivized to optimize each component of our value chain. Learnings and efficiency gains can then be applied across our entire
portfolio.
In addition, we believe that we are able to identify and respond to operational issues in a more efficient and timely manner than would be the case under an outsourced hosted model. We believe this allows us to maximize
operating performance as well as hardware life.
While outsourcing data centers and operations and maintenance to third parties may result in near-term returns and scale, short-term contractual arrangements may result in increased counterparty risk (for example,
potential non-performance, delays and disputes) and renewal risk.
Leading efficiency – Proprietary data centers
We are building proprietary data centers that continue to be refined through research and development efforts to further optimize the operational environment and efficiencies, including targeting stable performance
during high and low temperature periods, as well as the life of our hardware.
We believe our purpose-built proprietary data centers may provide operational advantages compared to less efficient airflow, cooling and re-heating designs that may be limited in certain modified shipping container or
retrofitted warehouses designs.
Seasoned management team with experience in data center and infrastructure development
We believe we are well-positioned to execute our strategy. Our board and management team have an extensive and established track record in financing, developing, building, operating, maintaining and managing large-scale
greenfield and brownfield renewable energy projects, data center development and associated grid connections across North America, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Additionally, we have been mining Bitcoin since 2019 and have good relationships with leading Bitcoin mining hardware suppliers, including Bitmain, as well as utility companies such as BC Hydro and AEP Texas.
Our team also has prior experience in the traditional data center and IT managed solutions industries, and we have good relationships with leading HPC hardware providers including Dell Technologies.
Established renewable energy and community strategy
We are focused on locating our operations in areas with low-cost and excess renewable energy. For example, our current operations in BC are connected to the BC Hydro network and have been 100% powered by renewable energy
since commencement of operations (currently approximately 97% of electricity used is sourced from clean or renewable sources as reported by BC Hydro and approximately 3% accounted for by the purchase of RECs). Furthermore, our Childress site is
located in the Panhandle region of Texas, which has significant capacity of operating renewable energy generation, and we have purchased RECs in respect of 100% of our energy consumption through to August 31, 2023 at our Childress site.
By targeting regions with existing and excess renewable energy supply, we also aim to help address potential social and public policy risks. We believe it is important to support the local communities in which we
operate. Our strategy is based upon entering markets that have a high penetration of renewables and where our operations can help provide benefits to the local energy markets and communities and establish a social license in the regions in which we
operate. See “—Energy market strategy” and “—Regional and community strategy” for more information.
Non-HODL Strategy
“HODL” is a term used in the digital assets market which refers to an investment strategy whereby, following the original acquisition of a digital asset, the investor continues to hold the digital asset regardless of
movements in the price of that digital asset. To date, we have adopted a “non-HODL” strategy pursuant to which we generally liquidate mining rewards on a daily basis (i.e., generally within the same day that we receive the relevant mining rewards),
and we have done so since we started mining Bitcoin in 2019 (including when Bitcoin hit an all-time high of approximately $69,000 in November 2021). We currently expect that we will generally continue to liquidate our Bitcoin mined on a daily basis,
however this may change in future.
The rationale behind our current non-HODL strategy include:
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providing a degree of risk mitigation during periods of Bitcoin price decline, for example, by potentially providing for higher average realized sale prices per Bitcoin during a period of declining Bitcoin prices; and
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providing a source of funding for capital and operating expenditures by reinvesting proceeds from liquidating Bitcoin mined.
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Geographical diversification
We believe that it is prudent to own and operate facilities across multiple jurisdictions to help mitigate against risks such as regulatory risks, political risks, market risks, counterparty risks, climate change and
weather-related events. Accordingly, our current operations and potential pipeline span across Canada, the U.S. and Asia-Pacific.
We believe that a portfolio of global projects helps reduce exposure to individual transmission networks, specific regional energy markets and single jurisdictions, and helps deliver a more durable and resilient business
over the long-term.
Strategically targeted energy markets
Regulated markets
Our overall energy market strategy is to enter markets where we believe we can provide benefits to the local energy markets and communities. In the case of regulated energy markets (such as BC), we look for regions where
the power market may be in structural renewable energy oversupply, for example, excess renewable energy capacity still being built and/or declining industrial and manufacturing demand.
Declining demand and increasing supply in a regulated market means that the regulatory pricing model may have to contemplate raising power prices in order to deliver the required return to the regulated utility provider.
See an illustrative regulated pricing formula below:
Without new load entering these markets and providing an additional revenue line to the utility, there may be a risk that power prices paid by incumbent users rise. This then potentially creates a negative spiral where
some power users are unable to pay their higher power bill and need to close down. This, in turn, may lead to even more pricing increases which then impacts on another group of power users who can no longer afford the higher power prices.
In this context, we believe that introducing our incremental load to regulated oversupplied renewable energy markets may offer a substantial benefit through bringing additional revenue to the market (helping to support
lower power prices for broader energy market participants per the above).
Deregulated markets
We believe many Western deregulated energy markets have been affected by a variety of events over the past decade, including:
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Declining demand for power:
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manufacturing and industrial loads exiting certain markets; and
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build out of residential rooftop solar photovoltaics (“PV”) lowering net retail demand (often driven by government policy).
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Increasing supply of power:
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substantial build out of intermittent renewables, often driven by government policy in the absence of a market-based price signal; and/or
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renewable energy projects face frequent network congestion and curtailment.
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We believe these market dynamics have created substantial volatility in power prices in some markets where those markets can swing quickly from oversupply to undersupply. In addition, without the system flexibility
issue being solved (i.e. load supporting a network of intermittent generation), legacy fossil fuel generators may not be able to be retired in the near-term.
We target these volatile markets where, through introducing new, flexible load, our proprietary data centers are able to utilize low-cost power during periods of oversupply (for example, excess intermittent renewable
energy) and then reduce energy consumption during certain high price time periods when the market is in undersupply (for example, solar/wind output is insufficient or during an extreme weather event).
Cost of electricity
We purchase our electricity for our operations in British Columbia pursuant to a regulated tariff which is subject to adjustment
annually. On April 21, 2023, as part of BC Hydro’s electricity rate review, the British Columbia Utilities Commission released an order approving, for the fiscal year commencing April 1, 2023: (i) an increase in the regulated variable rate by
0.97% and (ii) setting of the Deferral Account Rate Rider (effectively a discount applicable to a user’s electricity costs) at 1% (previously at 2%). As at June 30, 2023, after applying the Deferral Account Rate Rider of 1%, the applicable
variable rate was $0.038 per kWh along with a standing monthly charge (based on peak electricity demand for each billing period) of $6.43 per kVA. Prior to the electricity rate review on April 21, 2023, the applicable variable rate was $0.037
per kWh and the applicable standing monthly charge was $6.31 per kVA. In September 2023, we were notified by BC Hydro of a further 0.17% increase to its rates for the April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 period (to be applied retroactively) as well
as a further 0.20% increase to its rates for the April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 period.
At our Childress operation in Texas, the electricity market is deregulated and operates through a competitive wholesale market, which is subject to many factors, including fluctuations in commodity and energy prices.
We seek to reduce wholesale price volatility by purchasing electricity derivatives whereby the Childress project pays a fixed price for the wholesale price component of our electricity costs for the tenor of the derivative. If our load at Childress
is lower than the derivative volume for any period, we sell the unused volume into the market at the wholesale price. We have also implemented power cost optimization initiatives which enable the transition between Bitcoin mining and energy trading
to optimize profitability, and have the ability to participate in demand response, ERCOT ancillary services programs and four coincident peak (“4CP”) management within the ERCOT market.
Regional and community strategy
Our strategy is based upon entering markets that have a high penetration of renewables and where our operations can help provide benefits to the local energy markets and communities.
Establishing a social license in the regions in which we operate is a core focus. For example, we believe we may help stimulate economic activity and employment in regional communities which have been impacted by the
decline in traditional industries, such as manufacturing and industrial operations, while helping to position these regions at the forefront of emerging technology-related growth sectors to help provide economic diversification.
We provide funding for local community recreational infrastructure, volunteer groups and non-profit organizations. We also look to partner with schools and educational institutions to develop programs to train
maintenance technicians, network specialists and other operations staff. Iris Energy is committed to working with and supporting the communities in which we operate. We also look to partner with and support local First Nations and Indigenous
communities where we operate.
Recent initiatives include:
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announced the launch of the Community Grants Program for Childress, to invest up to $100,000 into local non-profit organizations and schools;
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presented a cheque to the Canal Flats Community Society in the amount of C$20,000 to support the annual Flats Fest outdoor music festival;
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donated C$5,000 to the Lheidli T’enneh Elders Society in Prince George, which will support an educational video production entitled “A year in the life of Lheidli”, capturing teaching from Lheidli T’enneh Elders;
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announced the Community Grants Programs in Mackenzie and Prince George (up to C$100,000 per year grant funding program for each community), which will provide funding for local initiatives that benefit the Mackenzie and Prince George
communities in the areas of community participation, sustainability, safety, technology and learning; and
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volunteered at and donated C$5,000 to the Mackenzie ‘Strong Thank You to Front Line Workers’ event, sponsored by the Mackenzie Chamber of Commerce.
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Our Growth Strategies
Develop existing data center sites
In addition to our current 180MW (5.6 EH/s) of capacity across our sites in BC and Texas, we are currently expanding our data center capacity at Childress, Texas.
In June 2023, we announced that construction of the remaining 80MW of data centers for Childress Phase 1 (first 100MW) at our Childress site (total potential power capacity of 600MW) is underway. Upon completion, the
additional 4 x 20MW data centers are expected to increase our potential hashrate capacity from 5.6 EH/s to approximately 9.1 EH/s (assuming the purchase of Bitmain S19 XP miners and full utilization of such additional data center capacity).
Our near-term focus remains on data center construction, which is subject to funding and market conditions. Miners have not yet been purchased in respect of the Childress expansion beyond 20MW and we continue to
monitor the market for funding and purchase opportunities.
Exploring the potential diversification of our revenue streams into new markets, including by focusing on developing and offering potential HPC solutions
Our growth strategies include exploring the potential diversification of our revenue streams into new markets. In particular, as previously announced in June 2023, we have revitalized our strategy of exploring the
potential development of HPC solutions. We believe we may be able to leverage our existing infrastructure and expertise to expand into offering HPC solutions and target a broad range of industries and applications, such as AI/ML, scientific
research and rendering.
In August 2023, we entered into a purchase agreement for 248 NVIDIA H100 GPUs for a total purchase price of approximately $10 million, which are expected to be delivered in the coming months. We believe this purchase
will allow us to further assess the appropriateness of our data centers for providing potential HPC solutions we may offer and our capability to prospective customers.
Add new sites with attractive energy arrangements
We continue to explore additional sites to build our global platform, both within our existing markets and in new markets where we believe we can obtain attractive energy arrangements and provide benefits to the local
energy markets and communities. In addition to our first three sites in BC and our initial site in Childress, Texas, we have conditional and unconditional rights to a number of additional sites across Canada, the U.S. and Asia-Pacific, over which
we are currently pursuing development activities and which have the potential to support up to an additional 1GW or more of aggregate data center capacity capable of powering growth beyond our 760MW of announced potential power capacity. However,
there can be no assurance that we will ultimately develop all or any of such additional sites.
Own, develop and operate renewable generation
We believe there is potential opportunity in the future to build and operate our own renewable generation and energy storage assets to lower our overall cost of power, generate additional revenue streams and support
energy markets. We believe we are well-positioned to pursue this potential opportunity given our management team’s substantial and proven track record in financing, developing, building and managing large-scale greenfield and brownfield renewable
energy projects and associated grid connections.
Consider pursuing strategic acquisitions
We may strategically assess acquisition opportunities where we believe such transactions can accelerate our strategic roadmap through horizontal or vertical integration, expanding capacity, or gaining intellectual
property that may help strengthen our competitive advantage.
Hardware Purchase Contracts
We previously entered into three binding hardware purchase agreements with Bitmain Technologies Limited (“Bitmain”) to acquire new generation Bitcoin
miners, Antminer S19j and Antminer S19j Pro. As of 30 June 2023, we operate approximately 5.6 EH/s of Bitcoin miners across our sites. There are no remaining commitments under
these agreements and all miners have since been delivered and installed, or on-sold to third parties.
In August 2023, we entered into a purchase agreement for 248 NVIDIA H100 GPUs for a total purchase price of approximately $10 million, which are expected to be delivered in the coming months.
Equipment Financing Agreements
We previously entered into three limited recourse equipment financing Facilities through three Non-Recourse SPVs, pursuant to which certain lending entities of NYDIG agreed to finance part of the purchase price of
various miners that had been, or were scheduled to be, delivered to certain subsidiaries of the Company. Each Facility was non-recourse to any other Group entities, including the Company and, as a result, the lender to each Non-Recourse SPV had no
recourse to, and no cross-collateralization with respect to, assets of the Company or any of its other subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of such Facilities.
In December 2022, Non-Recourse SPV 1 repaid in full one such Facility pursuant to which approximately $1.3 million of borrowings and fees were outstanding. The remaining two Facilities, pursuant to which $35.0 million
and $77.2 million of borrowings were outstanding as of December 31, 2022, respectively, were not repaid by the relevant Non-Recourse SPVs. Subsequently the lenders to such Non-Recourse SPVs commenced steps to enforce the indebtedness and their
asserted rights in the collateral securing such limited recourse facilities (including the approximately 3.6 EH/s of miners securing such facilities and other assets of such Non-Recourse SPVs), and appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers
Inc. as Receiver in respect of the assets, undertakings and property of both Non-Recourse SPVs on February 3, 2023.
In connection with the loans, we issued approximately $2.6 million aggregate principal amount of convertible notes to a related entity of the financier, which converted to 187,438 Ordinary shares on November 16, 2021
in connection with our IPO.
See “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business – Certain of our limited recourse wholly-owned subsidiaries have defaulted on equipment financing agreements and are subject to bankruptcy proceedings and legal
action by the lender, and we may be exposed to claims in connection with such proceedings” for a discussion of the risks associated with the defaults under the equipment financing facilities.
Background
The Facilities with Non-Recourse SPV 1 and Non-Recourse SPV 2 are governed by master equipment finance and security agreements with NYDIG ABL LLC (formerly known as Arctos Credit, LLC) (the “SPV 1 Financing Agreement”
and “SPV 2 Financing Agreement,” respectively). The Facility with Non-Recourse SPV 1 provides for $4.2 million aggregate principal amount in loans with a contractual term of up to 30 months, and is secured by an aggregate of approximately 0.2 EH/s
of miners as well as other assets of Non-Recourse SPV 1. The Facility with Non-Recourse SPV 2 provides for $49.7 million aggregate principal amount in loans with a contractual term of 28 months, and is secured by an aggregate of approximately 1.6
EH/s of miners as well as other assets of Non-Recourse SPV 2. The loans under both Facilities carry an interest rate of 12% per annum (currently accruing interest in the case of the Facility with Non-Recourse SPV 2, at the default rate of 18% per
annum and a late fee of 5% per annum) and were originally scheduled to be repaid through monthly payments of interest and/or principal from January 2021 through June 2023 (for the Facility with Non-Recourse SPV 1) and June 2021 through September
2023 (for the Facility with Non-Recourse SPV 2).
The Facility with Non-Recourse SPV 3 is governed by a limited recourse equipment finance and security agreement with NYDIG ABL LLC (the “SPV 3 Financing Agreement” and together with the SPV 1 Financing Agreement and
SPV 2 Financing Agreement, the “Financing Agreements”). The Facility with Non-Recourse SPV 3 provides for $71.2 million in loans with a contractual term of 25 months, and is secured by an aggregate of approximately 2.0 EH/s of miners as well as
other assets of Non-Recourse SPV 3. The loan carries an applicable interest rate of 11% per annum (currently accruing interest at the default rate of 15% per annum; a late fee of 5% is applicable prior to an event of default) and was originally
scheduled to be repaid through monthly payments of interest and/or principal from April 2022 through April 2024.
Each of the Financing Agreements contain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on the ability of each of the relevant Non-Recourse SPV to incur liens on the equipment securing the
Facilities, consummate mergers, dispose of assets or make investments. These covenants apply with respect to the applicable Non-Recourse SPV, but not to Iris Energy Limited. Each of these Financing Agreements also contain customary events of
default.
Upon an event of default under a Facility, the lender under such Facility may pursue various remedies, including (a) bringing claims for liquidated damages, specific performance or other claims, (b) foreclosing upon
the collateral securing such Facility by requiring the relevant Non-Recourse SPV to assemble and make available to the lender the miners and all digital assets mined therewith; entering the premises where any of the relevant Non-Recourse SPV’s
miners are located and repossessing such miners; using the relevant Non-Recourse SPV’s premises for storage without rent or liability; selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of the relevant miners to a third party; disabling the miners and/or
taking possession of the relevant miners and continuing the relevant Non-Recourse SPV’s operations; or otherwise foreclosing upon such miners, (c) accelerating all obligations of the relevant Non-Recourse SPV to be immediately due and payable,
including liquidated damages, (d) remedying such event of default for the account of and at the expense of the relevant Non-Recourse SPV, or (e) any other applicable remedies under applicable law, including appointment of a receiver. Any amounts
payable under the Facilities with Non-Recourse SPV 1 and Non-Recourse SPV 2 that are not paid when due accrues interest at a default rate of 18% per annum. Upon an event of default under the Facility with Non-Recourse SPV 3, the interest rate
applicable under Facility automatically increases to a default rate of 15% per annum. In addition, if any payment under any of the Facilities is not received when due, a late fee of 5% per annum on the overdue amount is payable upon demand from the
lender under each Facility.
The Notices of Alleged Default of Facilities
We announced in November 2022 that the miners owned by Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 that secure their respective Facilities produce insufficient cash flow to service their respective debt financing
obligations. As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $103.4 million aggregate principal amount of loans outstanding under such Facilities. Such Facilities are secured by approximately 3.6 EH/s of miners, as well as other assets of the
applicable Non-Recourse SPV (such as any cash and cash equivalents, prepayments, tax assets, and any other receivables relating to such Non-Recourse SPVs and miners).
On November 4, 2022, the Non-Recourse SPVs received notices from the lender under their Facilities (a) alleging, among other things, the occurrence of certain defaults with respect to the Facilities of Non-Recourse
SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3, which notice claimed that such Non-Recourse SPVs had failed to engage in good faith restructuring discussions and that such failure resulted in a payment default, and purported to declare the loans under such
Facilities immediately due and payable, and (b) alleging the occurrence of a potential event of default with respect to each of the three Facilities, which notice claimed that each Non-Recourse SPV had failed to maintain sufficient insurance.
Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 failed to make the scheduled principal payments under their respective Facilities by the extended due date on November 8, 2022, and such Non-Recourse SPVs received a further notice on November 15, 2022
alleging an event of default as a result of the failure to make such principal payments.
Further, on November 18, 2022, the Non-Recourse SPVs received a notice from the lender stating that the entire principal amount of the Facilities of Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3, under which the lender
claimed there was aggregate outstanding indebtedness of approximately $107.8 million as of November 18, 2022 (including accrued interest and late fees), had been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to the November 4, 2022 purported
acceleration notice. Such notice demanded payment in full with respect to each Facility, and stated that if payment is not received in full by November 29, 2022 then the lender intends to take steps to enforce the indebtedness and its asserted
rights in the collateral securing the Facilities, including bringing an application for the appointment of a receiver. Following receipt of the purported acceleration notice on November 4, 2022, certain other subsidiaries of the Company terminated
their respective hosting arrangements with Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3, and none of the approximately 3.6 EH/s of miners owned by such Non-Recourse SPVs have been operating since that termination, which materially reduced our hashrate
capacity.
Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 did not have sufficient funds or other resources to pay the amounts due upon acceleration of their respective Facilities in full, nor the ability to refinance, restructure or
modify the terms of their Facilities.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.
The lender to Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 has taken steps to enforce the indebtedness and its asserted rights in the collateral securing such limited recourse facilities (including the approximately 3.6
EH/s of miners securing such facilities and other assets of such Non-Recourse SPVs), and appointed, PricewaterhouseCoopers as Receiver, to the Facilities of Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 on February 3, 2023. On June 28, 2023, the
Receiver filed an assignment in bankruptcy on behalf of such Non-Recourse SPVs and was appointed as trustee of the Non-Recourse SPVs’ estates, and this appointment was affirmed at the meeting of creditors held on July 18, 2023. The receivership
and bankruptcy proceedings are ongoing.
On May 9, 2023, NYDIG filed an application with The Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking, among other things, declarations to the effect that
any difference between revenue generated by the Non-Recourse SPVs through the provision of hashpower services to Iris Energy Limited and Bitcoin mined by Iris Energy Limited is collateral securing the Facilities, as well as substantive
consolidation of certain Group entities and claims of fraudulent conveyance and oppression. A hearing was held in the Court on June 13 to 15, 2023 in respect of (i) the Receiver’s application dated June 9, 2023 for the approval of a sale
solicitation process for the miners comprising collateral under the Facilities and authorization to assign the Non-Recourse SPVs into bankruptcy, which was subsequently granted,
and (ii) NYDIG’s application for, among other things, declarations to the effect that the lender’s collateral included any difference between the revenue generated by the applicable Non-Recourse SPV through the provision of hashpower services to
Iris Energy Limited and the Bitcoin mined by Iris Energy Limited using such hashpower services, as well as claims that the assets and liabilities of such Non-Recourse SPVs are substantially consolidated with the assets and liabilities of Iris
Energy Limited and certain of its other affiliates. The Receiver advised the Court that it was taking no position with respect to NYDIG’s application.
On August 10, 2023, the Court issued a ruling affirming the Company’s position that, among other things, the Bitcoin mined by the Company is not collateral securing such facilities and there is no parent guarantee with
respect to the equipment financing facilities, and no relief in respect of substantive consolidation was granted. However, the Court declared transactions pursuant to hashpower services provided by the relevant Non-Recourse SPVs to the Company to
be void, and noted that based on the submissions to date the discrepancy between the value that the Company received for the hashpower and the consideration paid to the Non-Recourse SPVs is between $3.0 million and $11.9 million. The Company
disagrees with the decision and certain factual findings and filed a notice to appeal with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia on August 21, 2023.
On December 14, 2022, a putative securities class action complaint naming the Company and certain of its directors and officers was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. An amended complaint
in this action was filed on June 6, 2023, also naming as defendants the Company and certain of its directors and officers, as well as the underwriters of the Company’s IPO.
The amended complaint asserts claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 on behalf of a putative class of all persons and
entities who purchased or otherwise acquired (a) Iris Ordinary shares pursuant and/or traceable to documents issued in connection with the Company’s IPO and/or (b) Iris securities between November 17, 2021 and November 1, 2022, both dates
inclusive. It contends that certain statements made by the Company and certain of its officers and directors, including in the Company’s IPO Registration Statement and Prospectus, were allegedly false or misleading and seeks unspecified damages on
behalf of the putative class. The Company believes these claims are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on August 4, 2023.
See "—Equipment Financing Agreements—Legal Proceedings”, “Risk Factors—General Risk Factors—We are the subject of a putative securities class action, and could become subject to future litigation, including individual
and class action lawsuits, as well as investigations and enforcement actions by regulators and governmental authorities” and Notes 17 and 27 to our audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023 included in this Annual Report on Form
20-F for further discussion.
Competition
Competition in the Bitcoin Mining Business
Bitcoin mining operators can range from individual enthusiasts to professional mining operations with dedicated data centers, and miners may organize themselves in mining pools. We compete with other companies that
focus all or a portion of their activities on Bitcoin mining activities. At present, information concerning the activities of many of these enterprises is not readily available as most of the participants in this sector do not publish information
publicly or the information may be unreliable. Published sources of information relating to mining pools can be found on “Blockchain.com”; however, the reliability of that information and its continued availability cannot be assured.
Several public companies (traded in the U.S. and internationally) compete with us, including:
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Bitfarms Ltd.;
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Cipher Mining Inc.;
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CleanSpark, Inc.;
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Hive Digital Technologies Ltd.;
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Hut 8 Mining Corp.;
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Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc.;
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Riot Platforms, Inc.; and
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TeraWulf Inc.
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The Bitcoin mining industry is a highly competitive and evolving industry and new competitors, or emerging technologies could enter the market and affect our competitiveness in the future.
Competition in the HPC solutions industry
The HPC solutions industry is rapidly evolving industry and new competitors or incumbent traditional data center operators and cloud services providers could enter the market and affect our competitiveness in any HPC
solutions we may offer.
Several companies compete in this industry, including:
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CoreWeave;
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FluidStack Ltd;
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Lambda Inc.;
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Applied Digital Corporation; and
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RunPod Inc.
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There is also the potential for other Bitcoin and digital asset mining companies to diversify into the HPC solutions segment.
Employees and Human Capital Resources
As of June 30, 2023, we employ 18 employees in Australia in a corporate head office capacity, and 69 employees in Canada and 13 employees in the United States focused on developing our infrastructure and general
operations and corporate support. We also leverage external service providers to support our operations. None of our employees are represented by labor unions, and we believe we have an excellent relationship with our employees.
We believe that an engaged, diverse, and inclusive culture is essential for the success of our business, and we consider our employees to be the foundation for our growth and success. As such, our future success
depends in large part on our ability to attract, train, retain and motivate qualified personnel. The growth and development of our workforce is an integral part of our success. We are also committed to developing and fostering a culture of
diversity and inclusion and know that a company’s ultimate success is directly linked to its ability to identify and hire talented individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives.
For further detail see the section titled “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.”
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At Iris Energy, we believe that diversity of thought is a key factor to achieving innovation and success in our industry. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, where diverse perspectives and
experiences thrive.
We are proud of the gender diversity that has organically formed throughout our Company. As of June 30, 2023, 26% of our workforce consists of talented and skilled women who play integral roles in our operations,
construction, and corporate functions. In total, 21% of our leadership positions are filled by women, including key roles such as Chief Legal Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Site Manager and Operations Manager positions. We are committed to
further increasing diversity within our workforce and creating an environment where everybody is empowered to excel.
To demonstrate our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we:
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leverage inclusive recruitment practices that attract talent from diverse backgrounds;
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invest in the professional growth of our employees, promoting access to learning and career development opportunities; and
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actively engage with the communities where we operate, supporting initiatives that promote inclusivity and education including partnering with schools and training authorities to develop training programs for the local workforce.
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Government Regulation
U.S. Regulation
The laws and regulations applicable to digital assets are evolving and subject to interpretation and change. Governments around the world have reacted differently to digital assets; certain governments have deemed them
illegal, and others have allowed their use and trade without restriction, while in some jurisdictions, such as in the U.S., digital assets are subject to overlapping, unclear and evolving regulatory requirements. As digital assets have grown in
both popularity and market size, the U.S. Executive Branch, Congress and a number of U.S. federal and state agencies, including FinCEN, the CFTC, the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the
Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the IRS and state financial regulators, have been examining the operations of digital assets networks, digital assets users and digital assets exchange
markets, with particular focus on the extent to which digital assets can be used to launder the proceeds of illegal activities or fund criminal or terrorist enterprises and the safety and soundness and consumer-protective safeguards of exchanges or
other service-providers that hold, transfer, trade or exchange digital assets for users. Many of these state and federal agencies have issued consumer advisories regarding the risks posed by digital assets to investors. In addition, federal and
state agencies, and other countries have issued rules or guidance about the treatment of digital asset transactions or requirements for businesses engaged in activities related to digital assets. Depending on the regulatory characterization of the
digital assets we mine, the markets for those digital assets in general, and our activities in particular, our business and digital assets operations may be subject to one or more regulators in the United States and globally. Ongoing and future
regulatory actions may alter, perhaps to a materially adverse extent, the nature of digital assets markets and our digital assets operations. Additionally, U.S. state and federal and foreign regulators and legislatures have taken action against
digital assets businesses or enacted restrictive regimes in response to adverse publicity arising from hacks, consumer harm, or criminal activity stemming from digital assets activity. There is also increasing attention being paid by U.S. federal
and state energy regulatory authorities as the total electricity consumption of cryptocurrency-mining grows and potentially alters the supply and dispatch functionality of the wholesale grid and retail distribution systems. Many state legislative
bodies are also actively reviewing or discussing legislation to address the impact of cryptocurrency-mining in their respective states.
We are unable to predict the effect that any future regulatory change, or any overlapping or unclear regulations, may have on us, but such change, overlap or lack of clarity could be substantial and make it difficult
for us to operate our business or materially impact the market for digital assets that we mine or may mine in the future.
For example, in May 2019, FinCEN issued guidance relating to how the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) and its implementing regulations relating to money services businesses apply to certain businesses that transact in
convertible virtual currencies. Under this guidance, an entity conducting “money transmission services” related to Bitcoin would constitute money transmission services for “virtual currency” or “convertible virtual currencies” and thus may be
deemed a “money services business” that would be subject to the BSA and its implementing regulations. Although the guidance generally indicates that certain mining and mining pool operations will not be treated as money transmission services, the
guidance also addresses when certain activities, including certain services offered in connection with operating mining pools such as hosting convertible virtual currency wallets on behalf of pool members or purchasers of computer mining power, may
be subject to regulation. Although we believe that our mining activities do not presently trigger FinCEN registration requirements under the BSA, if our activities cause us to be deemed a “money transmitter,” “money services business” or equivalent
designation, under federal law, we may be required to register at the federal level and comply with laws that may include the implementation of anti-money laundering programs, reporting and recordkeeping regimes and other operational requirements.
In such an event, to the extent we decide to proceed with some or all of our operations, the required registration and regulatory compliance steps may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses to us, as well as on-going recurring compliance
costs, possibly affecting an investment in the Ordinary shares, operating results or financial condition in a material and adverse manner. Failure to comply with these requirements may expose us to fines, penalties and/or interruptions in our
operations that could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
According to the CFTC, at least some digital assets, including Bitcoin, fall within the definition of a “commodity” under the CEA. Under the CEA, the CFTC has broad enforcement authority to police market manipulation
and fraud in spot digital assets markets in which we may transact. Beyond instances of fraud or manipulation, the CFTC generally does not oversee cash or spot market exchanges or transactions involving digital asset commodities that do not utilize
margin, leverage, or financing. The NFA is the self-regulatory agency for the U.S. futures industry, and as such has jurisdiction over Bitcoin futures contracts and certain other digital assets derivatives. However, the NFA does not have regulatory
oversight authority for the cash or spot market for digital asset commodities trading or transactions. In addition, CFTC regulations and CFTC oversight and enforcement authority apply with respect to futures, swaps, other derivative products and
certain retail leveraged commodity transactions involving digital asset commodities, including the markets on which these products trade.
The SEC and its staff have taken the position that certain digital assets fall within the definition of a “security” under the U.S. federal securities laws. Public statements made by senior officials and senior members
of the staff at the SEC indicate that the SEC does not intend to take the position that Bitcoin is a security under the federal securities laws. However, such statements are not official policy statements by the SEC and reflect only the speakers’
views, which are not binding on the SEC or any other agency or court and cannot be generalized to any other digital assets. The SEC’s Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology published a framework for analyzing whether any given
digital assets is a security in April 2019; however, this framework is also not a rule, regulation or statement of the SEC and is similarly not binding on the SEC. Notwithstanding that the SEC has not asserted regulatory authority over Bitcoin or
trading or ownership of Bitcoin and has not expressed the view that Bitcoin should be classified or treated as a security for purposes of U.S. federal securities laws, the SEC has commented on Bitcoin and Bitcoin-related market developments and has
taken action against investment schemes involving Bitcoin. For example, the SEC has charged at least three Bitcoin mining companies in connection with a Ponzi scheme to defraud investors in their mining operation. The SEC has also repeatedly denied
proposed rule changes by exchanges to list and trade shares of certain spot Bitcoin-related investment vehicles on public markets, citing significant investor protection concerns regarding the markets for digital assets, including the potential for
market manipulation and fraud. Although the SEC has not stated that mining Bitcoin is itself a regulated activity, to the extent any digital assets we mine are deemed to be securities, the offer, sale and trading of those digital assets would be
subject to the U.S. federal securities laws.
In addition to the SEC, state securities regulators and several foreign governments have also issued warnings that certain digital assets may be classified as securities in their jurisdictions, and that transactions in
such digital assets may be subject to applicable securities regulations. Furthermore, certain the SEC and state securities regulators have taken the position that certain digital assets mining operations may involve the offer of securities. For
example, the Texas State Securities Board has taken enforcement action against the operator of a cloud mining company, whereby customers could purchase hashrate managed by the cloud mining company in exchange for a share of the mining reward, for
offering unregistered securities, and the SEC has taken enforcement action against sellers of mining hardware and software, whereby customers could purchase the hardware or software that the seller would maintain and operate, in exchange for the
mined digital assets, for offering unregistered securities and making materially false and misleading representations.
State financial regulators such as the New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) have also implemented licensure regimes, or repurposed pre-existing fiat money transmission licensure regimes, for the
supervision, examination and regulation of companies that engage in certain digital assets activities. The NYDFS requires that businesses apply for and receive a license, known as the “BitLicense,” to participate in a “virtual currency business
activity” in New York or with New York customers, and prohibits any person or entity involved in such activity from conducting activities without a license. Also, in June 2022, the New York State legislature passed a two-year moratorium on new or
renewed permits for certain electricity-generating facilities that use fossil fuel and provide energy for proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining operations. Louisiana also has enacted a licensure regime for companies engaging in a “virtual currency
business activity,” and other states are considering proposed laws to establish licensure regimes for certain digital assets businesses as well. Some state legislatures have amended their money transmitter statutes to require businesses engaging in
certain digital assets activities to seek licensure as a money transmitter, and some state financial regulators have issued guidance applying existing money transmitter licensure requirements to certain digital assets businesses. Some state money
transmitter statutes define money (or the applicable defined term under the relevant money transmitter statute) as including legal tender in the U.S. or abroad, which would include Bitcoin. The Conference of State Bank Supervisors also has proposed
a model statute for state level digital assets regulation. Although we believe that our mining activities do not presently trigger these state licensing requirements in any state in which we operate or plan to operate, if our activities cause us to
be deemed a “money transmitter,” “money services business” or equivalent designation under the law of any state in which we operate or plan to operate, we may be required to seek a license or register at the state level and comply with laws that
may include the implementation of anti-money laundering programs, reporting and recordkeeping regimes, consumer protective safeguards and other operational requirements. In such an event, to the extent we decide to proceed with some or all of our
operations, the required registrations, licensure and regulatory compliance steps may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses to us, as well as on-going recurring compliance costs, possibly affecting an investment in our Ordinary shares or
our net income in a material and adverse manner. Failure to comply with these requirements may expose us to fines, penalties and/or interruptions in our operations that could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of
operations and cash flows.
In March 2022, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets. The Executive Order asserted that technological advances and the rapid growth of the digital asset markets
“necessitate an evaluation and alignment of the United States Government approach to digital assets,” which signals an ongoing focus on digital asset policy and regulation in the United States.
Regulation Outside the U.S.
In Europe, at an EU level and in a number of EU member states (as well as the UK), other than in respect of anti-money laundering (as discussed below), digital assets taking the form of assets designed for the exchange
of value (such as Bitcoin) generally remain outside of the financial services regulatory perimeter. Nonetheless, the regulatory treatment of any particular digital assets is highly fact specific. However, the adoption of the “Markets in Crypto
Assets Regulation” (also known as MiCA) will have a significant impact on firms engaging in digital asset related businesses in the EU. MiCA, which entered into force on 29 June 2023, establishes a harmonized pan-EU regulatory regime for
crypto-assets. While a small number of crypto-assets are already subject to existing financial services legislation, such as security tokens that qualify as financial instruments under the recast Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, MiCA
applies to unregulated crypto-assets (for example, Bitcoin and Ether) as well as asset-referencing tokens. Many of the operative provisions of MiCA take effect in 2024. Issuers of certain types of tokens and crypto-asset service providers (CASPs)
will need to comply with the detailed requirements of MiCA, which in relation to CASPs means applying for authorisation from their home member state regulatory authority. MiCA does not extend to digital asset mining activities, however, companies
will be required to disclose to investors energy consumption data associated with mining activities.
In the UK, measures have recently been adopted and others are expected to be adopted in the near future that will bring currently unregulated crypto-assets within the regulatory perimeter. For example, marketing
materials in relation to “qualifying crypto-assets” will become subject to the restriction on communicating financial promotions. That means firms will only be able to advertise their crypto-asset related services to UK customers if they are
registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, the content of the advertisement is approved by a person authorized under
financial services legislation in the UK or the communication falls within an applicable exemption. In addition, the recently adopted Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (FSMA 2023) makes the performance of certain crypto-asset activities a
“regulated activity”. It is expected that HM Treasury will amend the relevant secondary legislation by adding crypto-assets to the list of “specified investments” thereby formally bringing them into the UK regulatory perimeter. Once implemented,
these changes mean that any person performing certain crypto-asset activities “by way of business” in the UK will need to be authorized by the FCA. The FSMA 2023 also brings certain types of “digital settlement assets” within the UK regulatory
perimeter. At present, digital assets mining activities are not subject to any regulatory authorization requirements in the UK.
As a result of the measures adopted by the EU and UK described above, firms carrying on crypto-asset activities and providing services to clients will become subject to the types of regulatory requirements that apply
to traditional financial services firms, such as the need to obtain authorization, conduct of business and systems and controls standards and regulatory capital requirements.
Historically, regulatory action directed at digital assets in the EU and UK has been in response to concerns arising in relation to anti-money-laundering and consumer protection. Under the EU’s Fifth Money Laundering
Directive (MLD5), custodian wallet providers and providers engaged in exchange services between digital assets (referred to as virtual currencies) and fiat currencies are subject to registration with the relevant supervisory authority in their
jurisdiction and must comply with day-to-day AML and counter-terrorism financing measures, including client due diligence obligations. Certain EU member states have implemented further measures in addition to the requirements of MLD5, including,
(i) an order introduced by several French ministries in December 2020, which aims to ban anonymous cryptocurrency accounts and regulate cryptocurrency-related transactions in light of concerns for terrorism financing and money laundering; and (ii)
strengthened anti-money laundering protections introduced by the Dutch regulator in November 2020, which were perceived to be targeting privacy coins as the protections impose client information and verification requirements.
The MLD5 has been retained as UK law (subject to certain amendments) following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and its requirements apply to in-scope firms that conduct business in the UK. However, taking account of
relevant guidance as to the scope of the UK’s AML regime published by the UK Joint Money Laundering Steering Group, we do not believe that we fall within scope of the UK’s anti-money laundering regime as either a custodian wallet provider or a
virtual currency exchange provider, which is referred to in the relevant U.K. legislation as a “cryptoasset exchange provider”.
From a consumer protection perspective, in January 2021 the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority imposed a ban on the sale of cryptocurrency-derivatives and exchange traded notes that reference certain digital assets to
retail investors in light of concerns for consumer harm, criminal activity and value fluctuations, following a number of warnings to consumers about the risks of investing in digital assets. In March 2021, the European Supervisory Authorities
reissued earlier warnings reminding consumers of the need to be alert to the “high risks” of digital assets, “including the possibility of losing all their money.”
At present, the proposals do not extend to digital assets mining activities, however, companies will be required to disclose to investors energy consumption and carbon emission data associated with mining activities.
The Canadian government has modified its value added tax legislation specifically in relation to Canadian entities that are involved in Bitcoin-related activities and their associated suppliers. These legislative
changes would, if implemented, eliminate the recovery of value added tax in Canada on inputs to our business. Any such, unrecoverable value added tax would act to increase the cost of all inputs to our business in Canada including electricity,
capital equipment, services and intellectual property acquired by our subsidiaries that operate in Canada. We are subject to audits related to certain Canadian tax rules from time to time. See Note 19 to our audited financial statements for the
year ended June 30, 2022.
FATF, an independent inter-governmental standard-setting body of which the U.S. is a member, develops and promotes policies to protect the global financial system against money laundering, terrorist financing and the
financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. FATF generally refers to a digital asset as a form of “virtual currency,” a digital representation of value that does not have legal tender status.
Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
Our operations and properties are subject to extensive laws and regulations governing health and safety, the discharge of pollutants into the environment or otherwise relating to health, safety and environmental
protection requirements in countries and localities in which we operate. These laws and regulations may impose numerous obligations that are applicable to us, including acquisition of a permit or other approval before conducting construction or
regulated activities; restrictions on the types, quantities and concentration of materials that can be released into the environment; limitation or prohibition of construction and operating activities in environmentally sensitive areas, such as
wetlands or areas with endangered plants or species; imposition of specific health and safety standards addressing worker protection; imposition of certain zoning, building code and energy-efficiency standards and imposition of significant
liabilities for pollution, including investigation, remedial and clean-up costs. Failure to comply with these requirements may expose us to fines, penalties and/or interruptions in our operations, among other sanctions, that could have a material
adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Certain environmental laws may impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where hazardous substances have been disposed
of or otherwise released into the environment, including at current or former properties owned or operated by us, even under circumstances where the hazardous substances were released by prior owners or operators or the activities conducted and
from which a release emanated complied with applicable law. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by noise or the release of hazardous
substances into the environment.
In addition, concerns have been raised about the amount of electricity required to secure and maintain digital asset networks. Further, in addition to the direct power costs of performing these calculations, there are
indirect costs that impact a digital asset network’s total power consumption, including the costs of cooling the machines that perform these calculations and ancillary energy consumption. Due to these concerns around power consumption, particularly
as such concerns relate to public utilities companies, various foreign, local, state, provincial and federal authorities have implemented, or are considering implementing, moratoriums on the provision of electricity to digital asset mining
operations or on digital asset mining, in general.
Environmental, health and safety laws and regulations are subject to change. The trend in environmental regulation has been to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may be perceived to impact the
environment or climate change, and thus there can be no assurance as to the impact or amount or timing of future expenditures for environmental regulation compliance or remediation. New or revised laws and regulations that result in increased
compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, or the incurrence of environmental liabilities, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Iris Energy Limited is the parent company of the Group. The Group consists of Iris Energy Limited and each of the subsidiaries of Iris Energy Limited. See Exhibit 8.1 “List of subsidiaries of the Registrant” of this
annual report for a list of our significant subsidiaries.
Intellectual Property
Our ability to conduct our business in a profitable manner relies in part on our proprietary methods and designs, which we protect as trade secrets. We rely upon trade secret laws, physical and technological security
measures and contractual commitments to protect our trade secrets, including entering into non-disclosure agreements with employees, consultants and third parties with access to our trade secrets. However, such measures may not provide adequate
protection and the value of our trade secrets could be lost through misappropriation or breach of our confidentiality agreements. Furthermore, third parties may claim that we are infringing upon their intellectual property rights, which may prevent
or inhibit our operations and cause us to suffer significant litigation expense even if these claims have no merit. See “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Intellectual Property.”
Properties
In BC we hold freehold interests in a 10-acre site in Canal Flats and an 11-acre site in Mackenzie. We also hold a 12-acre leasehold site in Prince George (30-year lease, and two 10-year extensions and an option to
purchase within the first 10 years from the commencement of the lease). The BC sites include land, data center facilities, electrical substation and ancillary infrastructure. In Childress County, Texas, U.S., we hold freehold interests in
approximately 500 acres of land across two properties. The following table reflects our current properties as of August 31, 2023, that are either operational or under construction, along with their expected respective data center and potential
hashrate capacities once operational:
|
Site
|
Capacity
(MW)
|
Capacity
(EH/s)(1)
|
Status
|
|
|
Canal Flats (BC, Canada)
|
30
|
0.8
|
Operating
|
|
|
Mackenzie (BC, Canada)
|
80
|
2.6
|
Operating
|
|
|
Prince George (BC, Canada)
|
50
|
1.6
|
Operating
|
|
|
Total (BC, Canada)
|
160
|
5.0
|
||
|
Childress (Texas, USA)
|
20
|
0.6
|
Operating
|
|
|
Total Operating (Canada & USA)
|
180
|
5.6
|
||
|
Childress (Texas, USA)
|
80
|
3.5
|
Under construction
Assumes the purchase of Bitmain S19 XP miners and full utilization of such data center capacity
|
|
1) Reflects estimated hashrate capacity by site assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro miners, unless
otherwise stated.
|
Our near-term focus remains on data center construction, which is subject to funding and market conditions. Miners have not yet been purchased in respect of the Childress expansion beyond 20MW and we continue to
monitor the market for funding and purchase opportunities.
See “⸺Capital Expenditures and Divestitures” for further discussion of expansion plans.
| ITEM 4A. |
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
|
Not applicable.
| ITEM 5. |
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
|
The following discussion should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report. The following discussion is based
on our financial information prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the IASB, which may differ in material respects from generally accepted accounting principles in other jurisdictions,
including U.S. GAAP, as well as “Presentation of Financial and Other Information” and “Item 4. Information on the Company⸺B. Business Overview.” Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this annual
report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that reflect plans, estimates and beliefs and involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those
described in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
We elected to change our presentation currency from Australian dollars to U.S. dollars effective from July 1, 2021. The change in presentation currency is a voluntary change which is accounted for
retrospectively. Accordingly, amounts presented in Australian dollars for periods ending on or prior to June 30, 2021 have been restated to U.S. dollars as described in “Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies” in our consolidated financial
statements included in this annual report on Form 20-F. For a comparative discussion and analysis related to the results of operations and changes in financial condition for fiscal year 2022 compared to 2021, refer to Item 5. “Operating and
Financial Review and Prospects” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, filed on September 13, 2022, with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.
Our fiscal year ends on June 30. Accordingly, references herein to “fiscal year 2023,” “fiscal year 2022” and “fiscal year 2021” relate to the years ended June 30, 2023, June 30, 2022 and June 30,
2021, respectively.
| A. |
Operating Results
|
Overview
We are a leading owner and operator of institutional-grade, highly efficient proprietary data centers powered by 100% renewable energy (whether from clean or renewable energy sources or through the purchase of RECs).
Our operations currently generate revenue by mining Bitcoin and earning Bitcoin revenue through a combination of block rewards and transaction fees from the operation of our Bitcoin miners and exchanging these Bitcoin for fiat currencies such as
USD or CAD, typically on a daily basis.
We have been mining Bitcoin since 2019. We typically liquidate all the Bitcoin we mine daily and therefore did not have any Bitcoin held on our balance sheet as of June 30, 2023. To date we have utilized Kraken, a
U.S.-based digital asset trading platform, to liquidate the Bitcoin we mine. The mining pools, that we utilize for the purposes of our Bitcoin mining, transfer the Bitcoin that we have mined to Kraken on a daily basis. Such Bitcoin is then
exchanged for fiat currency on the Kraken exchange or via its over-the-counter trading desk.
Our growth strategies include exploring the potential diversification of our revenue streams into new markets. In particular, as previously announced in June 2023, we have revitalized our strategy of exploring the
potential development of HPC solutions. We believe we may be able to leverage our existing infrastructure and expertise to expand into offering HPC solutions and target a broad range of industries and applications, such as AI/ML, scientific
research and rendering.
Our cash and cash equivalents were $68.9 million as of June 30, 2023. Our total revenue was $75.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2023, compared to total revenue of $59.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2022.
We generated a loss after income tax expense of $171.9 million and $419.8 million for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We generated EBITDA of ($123.2) million and $16.1 million for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022,
respectively. We generated Adjusted EBITDA of $1.4 million and $26.2 million for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measure not defined by IFRS. For a definition of EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA, an explanation of our management’s use of this measure and a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to loss after income tax expense, see “Special Note Regarding Non-IFRS Measures.”
We are a vertically integrated business, and own and operate our high voltage electrical infrastructure, data centers and Bitcoin mining hardware. We target development of data centers in regions where there are
low-cost, abundant and attractive renewable energy sources. We have ownership of our proprietary data centers and electrical infrastructure, including freehold and long-term leasehold land, which grants us more security and operational control over
our assets. We believe data center ownership also allows our business to benefit from more sustainable cash flows in comparison with businesses that rely upon third-party hosting services or short-term leases which may be subject to termination
rights, profit sharing arrangements and/or potential changes to contractual terms such as pricing. We assess opportunities to utilize our available data center capacity, including via potential third-party hosting and alternative revenue sources.
We also focus on grid-connected power access which we believe not only helps facilitate a more reliable, long-term supply of power, but also provides us with the ability to support the energy markets in which we operate (for example, through
potential participation in demand response, ancillary services provision and load management in deregulated markets such as Texas).
In January 2020, we acquired our first site in Canal Flats, located in British Columbia, Canada (“BC”), from PodTech Innovation Inc. and certain of its related parties. This site is our first operational site and has
been operating since 2019, and, as of August 31, 2023, has approximately 30MW of data center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 0.8 EH/s (assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro
miners).
In addition, we have constructed data centers at our other BC sites in Mackenzie and Prince George. Our Mackenzie site has been operating since April 2022 and, as of August 31, 2023, has approximately 80MW of data
center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 2.6 EH/s (assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro miners). Our Prince George site has been operating since September 2022 and, as of August
31, 2023, has approximately 50MW of data center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 1.6 EH/s (assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro miners).
Each of our sites in British Columbia are connected to the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (“BC Hydro”) electricity transmission network and have been 100% powered by renewable energy since commencement of
operations (currently approximately 97% sourced from clean or renewable sources as reported by BC Hydro and approximately 3% sourced from the purchase of RECs). Our contracts with BC Hydro have an initial term of one year and, unless terminated at
the end of the initial term shall extend until terminated in accordance with the terms of the agreement upon six months notice.
We have commenced initial operations at our Childress site (total potential power capacity of 600MW), located in the renewables-heavy Panhandle region of Texas, U.S. Our Childress site has been operating since April
2023 and, as of August 31, 2023, has approximately 20MW of data center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 0.6 EH/s (assuming full utilization of existing available data center capacity with Bitmain S19j Pro miners). As of August 31,
2023, we have purchased RECs in respect of 100% of our energy consumption to date at our Childress site.
The construction of an additional 80MW of data centers for Phase 1 (first 100MW) at our Childress site (total potential power capacity of 600MW) is underway, which is expected to increase our potential hashrate
capacity to approximately 9.1 EH/s (assuming the purchase of Bitmain S19 XP miners and full utilization of such additional data center capacity).
Our near-term focus remains on data center construction, which is subject to funding and market conditions. Miners have not yet been purchased in respect of the Childress expansion beyond 20MW and we continue to
monitor the market for funding and purchase opportunities.
As of August 31, 2023, we have approximately 180MW of data center capacity and hashrate capacity of approximately 5.6 EH/s across our sites in BC and Texas.
Non Recourse Equipment Financing
Termination of Intra-Group Hosting Arrangements
In connection with receipt of the relevant notices of acceleration of our limited recourse equipment financing facilities in November 2022 described below under “B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Equipment Financing
Agreements,” certain other of the Group's subsidiaries terminated their respective hosting arrangements with certain of the relevant special purpose vehicles, which materially reduced the Company’s hashrate capacity. As a result of the termination
of such hosting arrangements, none of the approximately 3.6 EH/s of miners owned by such special purpose vehicles are operating. Excluding such miners, the remaining operating capacity at each of Canal Flats, Mackenzie and Prince George, as of
December 31, 2022, was approximately 0.5 EH/s, 0.3 EH/s, and 0.4 EH/s, respectively. The Company's electricity costs per Bitcoin mined were also adversely impacted as a result of higher demand charges (i.e., fixed charges) per Bitcoin mined. In
particular, with a lower hashrate capacity and increased electricity costs per Bitcoin mined, we experienced a reduction in the Group's revenue and operating cash flows.
During the six months ended June 2023, we were able to gradually re-utilize our available data center capacity and increase our operating hashrate at our BC sites to 5.0 EH/s with additional miners purchased from
Bitmain. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business” for more information.
Factors Affecting Our Performance
Market Value of Bitcoin
We derive our revenues from Bitcoin mining. We earn rewards from Bitcoin mining that are paid in Bitcoin. We currently liquidate rewards that we earn from mining Bitcoin in exchange for fiat currencies such as USD or
CAD, typically on a daily basis. Because the rewards we earn from mining Bitcoin are paid in Bitcoin, our operating and financial results are tied to fluctuations in the value of Bitcoin. In addition, positive or negative changes in the global
hashrate impact mining difficulty and therefore the rewards we earn from mining Bitcoins may as a result materially affect our revenue and margins.
In a declining Bitcoin price environment, the Bitcoin mining protocol may provide a natural downside protection for low-cost Bitcoin miners through an adjustment to the number of Bitcoin mined. For example, when the
Bitcoin price falls, the ability for higher cost miners to pay their operating costs may be impacted, which in turn may lead over time to higher cost miners switching off their operations (for example, if their marginal cost of power makes it
unprofitable to continue mining, they may exit the network). As a result, the global hashrate would fall, and remaining low-cost miners may benefit from an increased percentage share of the fixed Bitcoin network rewards.
Conversely, in a rising Bitcoin price environment, additional mining machines may be deployed by miners, leading to increased global hashrate in the overall network. In periods of rising Bitcoin prices we may increase
our capital expenditures in mining machines and related infrastructure to take advantage of potentially faster return on investments, subject to availability of capital and market conditions. However, we also note that the global hashrate may also
increase or decrease irrespective of changes in the Bitcoin price.
While the supply of Bitcoin is capped at 21 million, the price of Bitcoin fluctuates not just because of traditional notions of supply and demand but also because of the dynamic nature of the market for Bitcoin. Having
been created in just a little over a decade as of the date of this annual report, the market for Bitcoin is rapidly changing and subject to global regulatory, tax, political, environmental, cybersecurity, and market factors beyond our control. For
a discussion of other factors that could lead to material adverse changes in the market value of Bitcoin, which could in turn result in substantial damage to or even the failure of our business, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks
Related to our Business”.
Further, the rewards for each Bitcoin mined is subject to “halving” adjustments at predetermined intervals. At the outset, the reward for mining each block was set at 50 Bitcoins and this was cut in half to 25 Bitcoins
on November 28, 2012 at block 210,000, cut in half again to 12.5 Bitcoins on July 9, 2016 at block 420,000, and cut in half yet again to 6.25 Bitcoins on May 11, 2020 at block 630,000. The next three halving events for Bitcoin are expected to take
place in 2024 at block 840,000 (when the reward will reduce to 3.125 Bitcoins), in 2028 at block 1,050,000 (when the reward will reduce to 1.5625 Bitcoins), and in 2032 at block 1,260,000 (when the reward will reduce to 0.78125 Bitcoins). As the
rewards for each Bitcoin mined reduce, the Bitcoin we earn relative to our hashrate capacity decrease. As a result these adjustments have had, and will continue to have, material effects on our operating and financial results.
Efficiency of Mining Machines
As global mining capacity increases, we will need to correspondingly increase our total hashrate capacity relative to the overall global hashrate —all
else being equal—to maintain the same amount of Bitcoin mining revenue. To remain cost competitive compared to other mining sector participants, in addition to targeting cost
effective sources of energy and operating efficient data center infrastructure, we may also need to maintain an energy efficient mining fleet.
Our Bitcoin mining operations primarily utilize the Antminer S19j Pro miner produced by Bitmain.
In certain periods, there may be disruption in global supply chain leading to shortage of advanced mining machines that meet our standard of quality and efficiency. To maintain our competitive edge over the long-term,
we strive to maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors across the supply chain to ensure that our fleet of miners is competitive.
Ability to Secure Low-Cost Renewable Power
Bitcoin mining consumes extensive energy for both the mining and cooling aspects of the operation. In particular, we believe the increasing difficulty of the network, driven by more miners and higher global hashrate,
and the periodic halving adjustments of Bitcoin reward rates, will drive the increasing importance of power efficiency in Bitcoin mining over the long-term.
Governments and regulators are increasingly focused on the energy and environmental impact of Bitcoin mining activities. This could lead to new governmental measures regulating, restricting or prohibiting the use of
electricity for Bitcoin mining activities, or Bitcoin mining activities generally. The price we pay for electricity depends on numerous factors including sources of generation, regulatory environment, electricity market structure, commodity prices,
instantaneous supply/demand balances, counterparty and procurement method. These factors may be subject to change over time and result in increased power costs. In regulated markets, such as in BC, suppliers of renewable power rely on regulators to
approve raises in rates, resulting in fluctuations subject to requests for rate increases and there approval thereof; in deregulated markets, such as in Texas, prices of renewable power will fluctuate with the wholesale market (including price
fluctuations in commodity prices such as the price of fossil fuels).
Competitive Environment
We compete with a variety of miners globally, including individual hobbyists, mining pools and public and private companies. We believe that, even if the price of Bitcoin decreases, the market will continue to draw new
miners and increase the scale and sophistication of competition in the Bitcoin mining industry. Increasing competition generally results in increase to the global hashrate, which in turn would generally lead to a reduction in the percentage share
of the fixed Bitcoin network rewards that Bitcoin miners, including Iris Energy, would earn.
Market Events Impacting the Digital Asset Industry
Recent market events in the digital asset industry have negatively market sentiment towards the broader digital asset industry. There has also been a decline in the value of digital assets generally through calendar
year 2022, including the value of Bitcoin, in connection with these events, which has impacted the Group from a financial and operational perspective. We expect that any further declines will further impact the business and operations of the Group,
and if such declines are significant, it could result in reduced revenue and operating cash flows and increased net operating losses, and could also negatively impact our ability to raise additional financing.
Market Events Impacting Digital Asset Trading Platforms
Recent market events in the digital asset markets have involved and/or impacted certain digital asset trading platforms. As previously described, the mining pools, that we utilize for the purposes of our Bitcoin
mining, currently transfer the Bitcoin we mine to Kraken, a digital asset trading platform, on a daily basis. Such Bitcoin is then exchanged for fiat currency on the Kraken exchange or via its over-the-counter trading desk on a daily basis.
Because we currently exchange the Bitcoin we mine for fiat currency on a daily basis, we believe we have limited exposure to fluctuations in the value of Bitcoin with respect to the Bitcoin that we mine once we have
mined such Bitcoin. In addition, we currently aim to withdraw fiat currency proceeds from Kraken on a daily basis utilizing Etana Custody, a third-party custodian, to facilitate the transfer of such proceeds to one or more of our banks or other
financial institutions. As a result, we have only limited amounts of Bitcoin and fiat currency with Kraken and Etana Custody at any time, and accordingly we believe we have limited exposure to potential risks related to excessive redemptions or
withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies from, or suspension of redemptions or withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies from, Kraken, Etana Custody or any other digital asset trading platform or custodian we may use in the future
for purposes of liquidating the Bitcoin we mine on a daily basis. However, if Kraken, Etana Custody or any such other digital asset trading platform or custodian suffers excessive redemptions or withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies, or
suspends redemptions or withdrawals of digital assets or fiat currencies, as applicable, any Bitcoin we have transferred to such platform that has not yet been exchanged for fiat currency, as well as any fiat currency that we have not yet
withdrawn, as applicable, would be at risk.
In addition, if any such event were to occur with respect to Kraken, Etana Custody or any such other digital asset trading platform or custodian we utilize to liquidate the Bitcoin we mine, we may be required to, or
may otherwise determine it is appropriate to, or if for any reason we decide to, switch to an alternative digital asset trading platform and/or custodian, as applicable. We do not currently use any other digital asset trading platforms or
custodians to liquidate the Bitcoin we mine. While we expect to continue to utilize Kraken and Etana Custody, there are numerous alternative digital asset trading platforms that operate exchanges and/or over-the-counter trading desks with similar
functionality to Kraken, and there are also several alternative funds transfer arrangements for facilitating the transfer of fiat currency proceeds from Kraken either with or without the use of a third-party custodian. We may explore opportunities
with alternative digital asset trading platforms, over-the-counter trading desks and custodians, and believe we have the ability to switch to one or more alternative digital asset trading platforms and/or funds transfer arrangements to liquidate
Bitcoin we mine and transfer the fiat currency proceeds without material expense or delay. As a result, we do not believe our business is substantially dependent on the Kraken digital asset trading platform or Etana Custody third-party custodian
services.
However, digital asset trading platforms and third-party custodians, including Kraken and Etana Custody, are subject to a number of risks outside our control which could impact our business. In particular, during any
intervening period in which we are switching digital asset trading platforms and/or third-party custodians, we could be exposed to credit risk with respect to any Bitcoin or fiat currency held by them. In addition, we could be exposed to
fluctuations in the value of Bitcoin with respect to the Bitcoin that we mine during such period or that was previously mined but has not yet been exchanged for fiat currency.
Potential diversification of revenue streams into new markets
Our growth strategies include exploring the potential diversification of our revenue streams into new markets, including HPC solutions. We believe we may be able to leverage our existing infrastructure and expertise to
expand into offering HPC solutions and target a broad range of industries and applications, such as AI/ML, scientific research and rendering. Our strategy may not be successful as a result of a number of factors described under “Item 3.D. Risk
Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Our increased focus on potential HPC solutions may not be successful and may result in adverse consequences to our business, results of operations and financial condition.” Our efforts to explore the
diversification of our revenue streams may distract management, require significant additional capital, expose us to new competition and market dynamics, and increase our cost of doing business.
Key Indicators of Performance and Financial Condition
Key operating and financial metrics that we use, in addition to our IFRS consolidated financial statements, to assess the performance of our business are set forth below for the year ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021,
include:
EBITDA
EBITDA excludes interest income, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, other finance expenses, and non-cash fair value gains and losses on hybrid financial instruments, which are important components of
our IFRS profit/(loss) after income tax expense. As a capital-intensive business, EBITDA excludes in the impact of the cost of depreciation of mining equipment and other fixed assets, which allows us to measure the liquidity of our business on a
current basis and we believe provides a useful tool for comparison to our competitors in a similar industry. The fair value gains and losses on hybrid financial instruments are significant non-cash accounting entries and are extracted to enable
management to review and compare the underlying results of operations period on period. We believe EBITDA is a useful metric for assessing operating performance before the impact of non-cash and other items. Our presentation of EBITDA should not be
construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these items.
We believe EBITDA and EBITDA Margin have limitations as analytical tools. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to profit/(loss) after income tax expense, as applicable, determined in accordance with
IFRS. They are supplemental measures of our operating performance only, and as a result you should not consider these measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, our profit/(loss) after income tax as determined in accordance with
IFRS, which we consider to be the most comparable IFRS financial measure. For example, we expect depreciation of our fixed assets will be a large recurring expense over the course of the useful life of our assets. EBITDA and EBITDA Margin do not
have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness as a comparative tool.
The following table shows a reconciliation of EBITDA to loss after income tax expense:
|
Year Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
restated
|
||||||||||
|
($ thousands)
|
($ thousands)
|
($ thousands)
|
||||||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense
|
$
|
(171,871
|
)
|
$
|
(419,770
|
)
|
$
|
(60,390
|
)
|
|||
|
Add/(deduct) the following:
|
||||||||||||
|
Non-cash fair value (gain)/loss and interest expense on hybrid financial instruments
|
-
|
418,726
|
60,656
|
|||||||||
|
Other finance expense
|
16,363
|
6,715
|
519
|
|||||||||
|
Interest income
|
(924
|
)
|
(79
|
)
|
(6
|
)
|
||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
30,856
|
7,741
|
1,252
|
|||||||||
|
Income tax expense
|
2,390
|
2,724
|
1,239
|
|||||||||
|
EBITDA
|
$
|
(123,186
|
)
|
$
|
16,057
|
$
|
3,270
|
|||||
|
Bitcoin Mining Revenue
|
$
|
75,509
|
$
|
59,037
|
$
|
7,898
|
||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense margin(1)
|
(228%
|
)
|
(711%
|
)
|
(765%
|
)
|
||||||
|
EBITDA margin(2)
|
(163%
|
)
|
27%
|
|
41%
|
|
||||||
| (1) |
Loss after income tax expense margin is calculated as Loss after income tax expense divided by Bitcoin Mining Revenue.
|
| (2) |
EBITDA margin is calculated as EBITDA divided by Bitcoin Mining Revenue.
|
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA as further adjusted to exclude share-based payments expense, foreign exchange gains/losses, impairment of assets, other income, loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, gain on
disposal of subsidiaries and certain other expenses. Beginning in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the Company has changed its definition of Adjusted EBITDA to exclude impairment of assets, gain on disposal of subsidiaries and loss on disposal
of property, plant and equipment. This is a change from the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA in prior periods, and these adjustments did not have any impact on the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA in prior periods. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a
useful metric because it allows us to monitor the profitability of our business on a current basis and removes expenses which do not impact our ongoing profitability and which can vary significantly in comparison to other companies. Our
presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these items.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin have limitations as analytical tools. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to profit/(loss) after income tax expense, as applicable, determined
in accordance with IFRS. They are supplemental measures of our operating performance only, and as a result you should not consider these measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, our profit/(loss) after income tax as determined
in accordance with IFRS, which we consider to be the most comparable IFRS financial measure. For example, we expect depreciation of our fixed assets will be a large recurring expense over the course of the useful life of our assets, and that
share-based compensation is an important part of compensating certain employees, officers and directors. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore are not necessarily comparable
to similarly titled measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness as a comparative tool.
The following table shows a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to loss after income tax expense:
|
Year Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
restated
|
||||||||||
|
($ thousands)
|
($ thousands)
|
($ thousands)
|
||||||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense
|
$
|
(171,871
|
)
|
$
|
(419,770
|
)
|
$
|
(60,390
|
)
|
|||
|
Add/(deduct) the following:
|
||||||||||||
|
Non-cash fair value (gain)/loss and interest expense on hybrid financial instruments
|
-
|
418,726
|
60,656
|
|||||||||
|
Other finance expense
|
16,363
|
6,715
|
519
|
|||||||||
|
Interest income
|
(924
|
)
|
(79
|
)
|
(6
|
)
|
||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
30,856
|
7,741
|
1,252
|
|||||||||
|
Income tax expense
|
2,390
|
2,724
|
1,239
|
|||||||||
|
EBITDA
|
$
|
(123,186
|
)
|
$
|
16,057
|
$
|
3,270
|
|||||
|
Bitcoin Mining Revenue
|
$
|
75,509
|
$
|
59,037
|
$
|
7,898
|
||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense margin(1)
|
(228%
|
)
|
(711%
|
)
|
(765%
|
)
|
||||||
|
EBITDA margin(2)
|
(163%
|
)
|
27%
|
|
41%
|
|
||||||
|
Add/(deduct) the following:
|
||||||||||||
|
EBITDA
|
||||||||||||
|
Non-cash share based payment expense – founders
|
12,186
|
11,442
|
141
|
|||||||||
|
Non-cash share-based payment expense – other
|
2,170
|
2,454
|
664
|
|||||||||
|
Impairment of assets(3)
|
105,172
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
|
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss
|
191
|
(8,009
|
)
|
(2,542
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Other income(4)
|
(3,137
|
)
|
(12
|
)
|
(590
|
)
|
||||||
|
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries(5)
|
(3,258
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||
|
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment(6)
|
6,628
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
|
Other expense items(7)
|
4,613
|
4,297
|
443
|
|||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
$
|
1,379
|
$
|
26,229
|
$
|
1,386
|
||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin(8)
|
2%
|
|
44%
|
|
18%
|
|
||||||
| (1) |
Loss after income tax expense margin is calculated as Loss after income tax expense divided by Bitcoin Mining Revenue.
|
| (2) |
EBITDA margin is calculated as EBITDA divided by Bitcoin Mining Revenue.
|
| (3) |
Impairment of assets for the year ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $105.2 million, $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively. See “—Components of our
Results of Operations—Expenses—Impairment of assets” for further information.
|
| (4) |
Other income includes net gains on the sale of other assets. It also includes COVID-19 related wage subsidies and insurance recoveries received in the year ended June 30, 2021.
|
| (5) |
Gain on disposal of subsidiary represents a gain recorded on the deconsolidation of the Non-Recourse SPVs on 3 February 2023.
|
| (6) |
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment relates to a disposal of mining hardware during the year ended June 30, 2023.
|
| (7) |
Other expense items include professional fees incurred in relation to the securities class action, the exploration of financing options that did not proceed, the IPO, and one-off additional remuneration.
|
|
(8)
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Bitcoin Mining Revenue.
|
Components of our Results of Operations
Revenue
Bitcoin mining revenue
Our revenues primarily consist of Bitcoin that we mine and typically liquidate on a daily basis. We have entered into arrangements with mining pools, whereby computing power is directed to the mining pools in exchange for non-cash consideration
in the form of Bitcoin. The provision of computing power is the only performance obligation in the contract with the mining pool operators. In the mining pools, which we participated in during the periods presented, we are not directly exposed to
the pool’s success in mining blocks. We are rewarded in Bitcoin for the hashrate we contribute to these mining pools. The reward for the hashrate contributed is based on the current network difficulty and global daily revenues from transaction
fees, less pool fees.
Bitcoin mining revenue comprises of the block reward and transaction fees bundled together in a gross daily deposit of Bitcoin into our exchange wallet. Bitcoin received from the mining pool operator are remitted to the pool participants’
wallets net of the fees of the mining pool operator. The mining pool operator fees are reflected in the quantity of Bitcoin received by us and recorded as a reduction in Bitcoin mining revenue.
Other income
Other income includes net gains on disposal of assets, COVID-19 related wage subsidies received, insurance recoveries received.
Expenses
Our expenses are characterized by the nature of the expense, with the main expense categories set out below.
Depreciation and amortization
We capitalize the cost of our buildings, plant and equipment and mining hardware. Depreciation expense is recorded on a straight-line basis to nil over the estimated useful life of the underlying assets. Our buildings
are currently depreciated over 20 years, mining hardware is depreciated over 4 years and plant and equipment is depreciated over 3-10 years depending on the expected life of the underlying asset.
Electricity charges
Electricity charges primarily consists of the cost of electricity to power our data center sites. The price of electricity in BC is subject to a regulated tariff that may be adjusted by the supplier from time to time,
resulting in increases or decreases in the cost of electricity we purchase. In Texas, the electricity market is deregulated and operates through a competitive wholesale market. Electricity prices in Texas are subject to many factors, such as, for
example, fluctuations in commodity prices including the price of fossil fuels and other energy sources. Electricity at Childress, Texas is sourced from the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”), the organization that operates Texas’
electrical grid. We may participate in demand response programs, load curtailment in response to prices, or other programs, as part of our electricity procurement strategies in Texas, including the use of automated systems to reduce our power
consumption in response to market signals.
Employee benefits expense
Employee benefits expense represents salary and other employee costs, including superannuation and other similar payments and associated employee taxes.
Share-based payments expense
Share-based payments expense represents the amortization of share-based compensation arrangements that have been granted to directors, executive offers and management. These arrangements include, loan-funded share
arrangements granted to management, options and restricted share units issued to directors, executive officers and management.
Impairment of assets
Impairment of assets represents impairment expense recorded on mining hardware, mining hardware prepayments, goodwill, development assets and other assets.
Gain/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
The net gain/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment includes net gains or losses on disposal of mining hardware and other property, plant and equipment.
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries represents a gain recorded on the deconsolidation of the Non-Recourse SPVs on 03 February 2023.
Professional fees
Professional fees represent legal fees, audit fees, broker fees and fees paid to tax, regulatory and other advisers.
Other expenses
Other expenses represent office rent, insurance, travel, repairs and maintenance, charitable donations and general business expenses required to operate the business.
Finance expense
Finance expense consists primarily of interest expense on mining hardware financing arrangements, interest expense on hybrid financial instruments, fair value loss on embedded derivatives and amortization of
capitalized borrowing costs. The interest expense recorded on hybrid financial instruments relates to the two convertible notes issued in 2021. The fair value loss on embedded derivatives relates to embedded derivatives recognized on issuance of
our SAFE and two tranches of convertible note instruments during the year ended June 30, 2021, and one tranche of convertible note instruments during the year ended June 30, 2022. Each of the SAFE and Convertible notes and embedded derivatives
converted to Ordinary shares at the same time as the existing convertible instruments on November 16, 2021 ahead of the Company’s IPO.
Interest income
Interest income includes interest generated on short-term cash deposits with regulated financial institutions and a short-term loan to a third party.
Foreign exchange gain/(loss)
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) includes realized and unrealized foreign exchange movements on monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.
Income tax expense
We are liable to pay tax in a number of jurisdictions, including Australia, Canada and the United States. Tax liabilities arise to the extent that we do not have sufficient prior year tax losses to offset future
taxable income in these jurisdictions
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes our results of operation, disclosed in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income/(loss) for the years ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
restated
|
||||||||||
|
($ thousands)
|
($ thousands)
|
($ thousands)
|
||||||||||
|
Revenue
|
||||||||||||
|
Bitcoin mining revenue
|
$
|
75,509
|
$
|
59,037
|
$
|
7,898
|
||||||
|
Other income
|
3,137
|
12
|
590
|
|||||||||
|
Gain/(loss) on disposal of subsidiaries
|
3,258
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
|
Expenses
|
||||||||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
(30,856
|
)
|
(7,741
|
)
|
(1,252
|
)
|
||||||
|
Electricity charges
|
(35,753
|
)
|
(10,978
|
)
|
(2,654
|
)
|
||||||
|
Employee benefits expense
|
(17,897
|
)
|
(7,448
|
)
|
(2,221
|
)
|
||||||
|
Share-based payments expense
|
(14,356
|
)
|
(13,896
|
)
|
(805
|
)
|
||||||
|
Impairment of assets
|
(105,172
|
)
|
(167
|
)
|
(432
|
)
|
||||||
|
Professional fees
|
(6,271
|
)
|
(6,807
|
)
|
(980
|
)
|
||||||
|
Gain/(loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment
|
(6,628
|
)
|
-
|
(202
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Other expenses
|
(18,822
|
)
|
(11,705
|
)
|
(466
|
)
|
||||||
|
Profit/(loss) before interest, foreign exchange gain/(loss) and income tax
|
(153,851
|
)
|
307
|
(524
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Finance expense
|
(16,363
|
)
|
(425,441
|
)
|
(61,175
|
)
|
||||||
|
Interest income
|
924
|
79
|
6
|
|||||||||
|
Foreign exchange gain/(loss)
|
(191
|
)
|
8,009
|
2,542
|
||||||||
|
Loss before income tax expense
|
(169,481
|
)
|
(417,046
|
)
|
(59,151
|
)
|
||||||
|
Income tax expense
|
(2,390
|
)
|
(2,724
|
)
|
(1,239
|
)
|
||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense for the year
|
(171,871
|
)
|
(419,770
|
)
|
(60,390
|
)
|
||||||
|
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
|
||||||||||||
|
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
|
||||||||||||
|
Foreign currency translation
|
(13,641
|
)
|
(23,553
|
)
|
1,313
|
|||||||
|
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax
|
(13,641
|
)
|
(23,553
|
)
|
1,313
|
|||||||
|
Total comprehensive loss for the year
|
$
|
(185,512
|
)
|
$
|
(443,323
|
)
|
$
|
(59,077
|
)
|
|||
Comparison of the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
Revenue
Bitcoin mining revenue
Our Bitcoin mining revenue for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, was $75.5 million and $59.0 million, respectively. This revenue was generated
from the mining and sale of 3,259 and 1,399 Bitcoins during the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The $16.5 million increase in revenue was primarily driven by the 133% increase in the number of Bitcoin mined, which resulted from
increased data center and hashrate capacity, but which was partially offset by the termination in November 2022 of certain co-hosting arrangements in connection with defaults of Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 under the Facilities as
described under “Item 4. Information on the Company—Our Growth Strategies—Equipment Financing Agreements” (thereby materially reducing our hashrate capacity, which reduction was subsequently fully reversed as we were able to gradually re-utilize
a portion of our available data center capacity during the remainder of the period), as well as the decrease in the average price per Bitcoin mined from $42,200 in the year ended June 30, 2022 to $23,200 in the year ended June 30, 2023.
Other income
Our other income for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $3.1 million and $12 thousand, respectively. Other income generated during the year ended June 30, 2023 comprised of $3.1 million net gain on disposal of
other assets. In the year ended June 30, 2022 other income was made up of the net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment.
Gain/(loss) on disposal of subsidiaries
Gain/(loss) on disposal of subsidiaries represents a $3.3m gain recorded on the deconsolidation of the Non-Recourse SPVs on 03 February 2023.
Expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization consist primarily of the depreciation of Bitcoin mining hardware and data center. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 were $30.9 million and
$7.7 million, respectively. This increase was primarily due to the increase in operational assets during the year ended June 30, 2023.
Electricity charges
The electricity charges for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 were $35.8 million and $11.0 million, respectively.
This increase was primarily due to the increase in average operating
hashrate to 2.7 EH/s for the year ended June 30, 2023 from 0.7 EH/s in the year ended June 30, 2022, driven by the acquisition of new miners. As at June 30,
2023 the Group had 180 MW of data center capacity compared to 39 MW as at June 30, 2022. This increase in hashrate capacity was partially offset by the termination in November 2022 of certain hosting arrangements in connection with Non-Recourse
SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3 under the Facilities as described under “Item 4. Information on the Company—Our Growth Strategies—Equipment Financing Agreements” (thereby materially reducing our hashrate capacity, which reduction was subsequently
fully reversed as we were able to gradually re-utilize a portion of our available data center capacity during the remainder of the period).
The increase in the cost of electricity per Bitcoin mined was primarily due to an increase in the average global hashrate and a temporary period of reduced utilization of our BC data center capacity due
to the reduction in operating capacity outlined above.
Employee benefits expenses
Employee benefits expenses consist primarily of wages and salaries to employees and contractors, and associated taxes. Employee benefits expenses for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 were $17.9 million and $7.4
million, respectively. The increase reflects a rise in the employee and contractor headcount, which was related to the expansion of business operations, along with additional remuneration which was approved by the Board based on recommendations
from an independent executive compensation specialist engaged to assess the appropriateness of executive and independent non-executive director compensation since our IPO. This analysis included a comparison against a peer group of publicly traded
companies and concluded that, among other things, our Co-CEOs’ remuneration was significantly below peer benchmarks and as such, recommended that our Co-CEO remuneration be aligned to market.
Share-based payments expense
Share-based payments expense for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $14.4 million and $13.9 million, respectively. The increase was primarily
due to amortization expenses recorded in relation to the $75 Exercise Price Options which were granted in
September 2021 in connection with the IPO and are being amortized over the life of the options.
Share-based payments expense also includes expense recorded in relation to incentives issued under our employee share plan, employee option plan (the
“Employee Option Plan”), non-executive director option plan (the “NED Option Plan”), 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan and 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan. See “Item 6. Directors,
Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation.”
Impairment of assets
Impairment of assets for the year ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $105.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively. In the year ended
June 30, 2023, we recorded an impairment of $105.2 million which included an impairment of $64.8 million of mining hardware (relating to mining hardware held by Non-Recourse
SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3), $1.7 million related to mining hardware prepayments (relating to hardware purchases for Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV
3), $25.7 million related to other mining hardware, $11.3 million related to other
mining hardware prepayments, $1.1 million related to development assets and $0.6 million related to goodwill.
The impairment of assets for the year ended June 30, 2023 also reflects the reclassification of $15.2 million previously reported as a
loss allowance for other receivables in our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the three and six month periods ended December 31, 2022 in relation to Non-Recourse SPV 2 and
Non-Recourse SPV 3. In connection with such reclassification, our unaudited interim statements of financial position as at December 31, 2022 would also have reflected an increase to cash and cash equivalents of $1.3 million, other receivables of
$15.2 million, and mining hardware prepayments of $2.4 million, and a corresponding decrease in property, plant and equipment of $18.9 million, in each case attributable to Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3.
Gain/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
The net loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment for the year ended June 30, 2023 was $6.6 million which relates to a disposal of mining hardware. For the year ended June 30, 2022 the Company made a gain on
disposal of older generation less efficient mining hardware which is included in other income.
Professional fees
Professional fees primarily consist of fees payable to lawyers, accountants and tax advisers. Professional fees for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 were $6.3 million and $6.8 million, respectively. In the year
ended June 30, 2023 $0.9 million related to the audit fees and $0.8 million related to one-off costs in relation to the securities class action litigation. Included in the fees for the year ended June 30, 2022 are other expense items of $4.0
million including items relating to the IPO and the exploration of multiple financing options that did not proceed due to current market conditions and available financing terms. The decrease was primarily due to professional fees incurred during
the year ended June 30, 2022 related to the one off IPO that closed during such period and as such did not recur during the year ended June 30, 2023. Under accounting standards only a percentage of these costs are capitalized based on the
percentage of new shares issued as part of the offering.
Other expenses
Other expenses for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $18.8 million and $11.7 million, respectively. Other expenses include expenses related
to office rent, insurance, marketing, travel, site expenses (which includes repairs and maintenance), donations, general business expenses required to operate the business and a provision for GST on services exported to the Australian parent by
the Canadian subsidiaries (see Note 18 to our audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023 included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F). The increase
primarily related to the expansion of the business operations and ongoing costs as a publicly listed company and includes an increase of $0.6 million in insurance costs, $2.5 million GST provision, $0.6 million in short term office and equipment rental expenses, and $2.1 million
in site expenses.
Finance expense
Finance expense for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $16.4 million and $425.4 million, respectively. The decrease was primarily driven by one-off expenses incurred during the year ended June 30, 2022 related
to effective interest expense and fair value movements on convertible and SAFE notes issued prior to our IPO and a reduction in interest expense on mining hardware financing as a result of the deconsolidation of Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse
SPV 3.
Interest income
Interest income for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $924 thousand
and $79 thousand, respectively. The increase was primarily related to interest income earned on cash and cash
equivalents.
Foreign exchange gains/(loss)
Foreign exchange gains/(loss) for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was a loss of $0.2 million and a gain of $8 million, respectively. The increase was primarily relating to foreign exchange movements in the
translation of assets and liabilities held in currencies other than the functional currency of the company holding the asset or liability. We use the U.S. dollar as our presentation currency; however, the companies in the Group use the Australian
dollar, Canadian dollar, or the U.S. dollar as their functional currencies.
Foreign currency transactions are translated into each entity’s functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Accordingly, foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from
the settlement of such transactions and the translation at financial period-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in profit or loss.
Income tax expense
Income tax expense for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was an expense of $2.4 million and $2.7 million, respectively. The decrease was primarily relating to the movement in the deferred tax expense in respect
of unrealized foreign exchange gains and accelerated tax depreciation versus book basis of capital assets.
Loss after income tax expense for the period
The loss after income tax expense for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $171.9 million and $419.8 million, respectively. The decreased loss is primarily attributable to the decrease in finance expense as the
year ended June 30, 2022 included a loss on embedded derivatives held at fair value of $390.7 million and a $26.7 million interest expense on hybrid financial instrument.
| B. |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
|
Prior to our IPO, we primarily relied on private financings to fund our operations, meet ongoing working capital needs, and execute on our business plan’s initial stages. For example, in fiscal year 2021, we made the
following financings: (i) on October 28, 2020, we issued SAFE instruments at a conversion price of $2.57 (A$3.50) per Ordinary share; (ii) on January 5, 2021, we issued convertible notes at a conversion price of $2.57 (A$3.50) per Ordinary share;
(iii) on April 1, 2021 we issued convertible notes at a conversion price of $8.63 (A$11.75) per Ordinary share; and iv) on October 8, 2021 we issued convertible notes at a conversion price of $21.00 per Ordinary share. These SAFE instruments and
convertible notes were converted into 1,192,934 Ordinary shares, 8,067,517 Ordinary shares, 10,130,879 Ordinary shares and 5,443,778 Ordinary shares, respectively, upon consummation of the IPO on November 16, 2021.
On November 19, 2021, we consummated our IPO in which we issued 8,269,231 Ordinary shares for net proceeds of $215,330,775.
On September 23, 2022, we entered into an Ordinary shares purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC
(“B. Riley”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we have the right to sell to B. Riley up to $100.0 million of our Ordinary shares, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, from time to time during the
term of the Purchase Agreement ending on September 23, 2024, unless earlier terminated. Sales of our Ordinary shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and the timing of any sales, are solely at our option, and we are under no obligation to sell
any securities to B. Riley under the Purchase Agreement. A resale registration statement relating to shares sold to B. Riley under the Purchase Agreement was subsequently declared effective by the SEC on January 26, 2023. As of June 30, 2023, we
had sold 11,843,169 Ordinary shares under the Purchase Agreement (of which 388,845 were settled and issued post June 30, 2023) for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $43.4 million (net proceeds of $42.1 million), and we have the right to
sell up to approximately $56.6 million of additional Ordinary shares remaining under the Purchase Agreement. The total number of Ordinary shares outstanding as of August 31, 2023 is 67,090,371.
We continue to monitor funding markets for opportunities to raise additional debt, equity or equity-linked capital to fund further capital or liquidity needs, and growth plans.
Hardware Purchase Contracts
We previously entered into three binding hardware purchase agreements with Bitmain Technologies Limited (“Bitmain”) to acquire new generation Bitcoin
miners, Antminer S19j and Antminer S19j Pro. As of June 30, 2023, we operate approximately 5.6 EH/s of Bitcoin miners across our sites. There are no remaining commitments under
these agreements and all miners have since been delivered and installed, or on-sold to third parties.
In August 2023, we entered into a purchase agreement for 248 NVIDIA H100 GPUs for a total purchase price of approximately $10 million, which are expected to be delivered in the coming months.
Equipment Financing Agreements
We previously entered into three limited recourse equipment financing Facilities through three Non-Recourse SPVs, pursuant to which certain lending entities of NYDIG agreed to finance part of the purchase price of
various miners that had been, or were scheduled to be, delivered to certain subsidiaries of the Company. Each Facility was non-recourse to any other Group entities, including the Company and, as a result, the lender to each Non-Recourse SPV had no
recourse to, and no cross-collateralization with respect to, assets of the Company or any of its other subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of such Facilities. As of June 30, 2022, the aggregate amount drawn under such facilities was $109.4 million.
In December 2022, Non-Recourse SPV 1 repaid in full one such Facility pursuant to which approximately $1.3 million of borrowings and fees were outstanding. The remaining two Facilities, pursuant to which $35.0 million
and $77.2 million of borrowings were outstanding as of December 31, 2022, respectively, were not repaid by the relevant Non-Recourse SPVs. Subsequently the lenders to such Non-Recourse SPVs commenced steps to enforce the indebtedness and their
asserted rights in the collateral securing such limited recourse facilities (including the approximately 3.6 EH/s of miners securing such facilities and other assets of such Non-Recourse SPVs), and appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers
Inc. as Receiver in respect of the assets, undertakings and property of both Non-Recourse SPVs on February 3, 2023.
In connection with the loans, we issued approximately $2.6 million aggregate principal amount of convertible notes to a related entity of the financier, which converted to 187,438 Ordinary shares on November 16, 2021
in connection with our IPO.
See “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business – Certain of our limited recourse wholly-owned subsidiaries have defaulted on equipment financing agreements and are subject to bankruptcy proceedings and legal
action by the lender, and we may be exposed to claims in connection with such proceedings” for a discussion of the risks associated with the defaults under the equipment financing facilities.
Going Concern
The Group has determined there is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern but has concluded it is appropriate to prepare the consolidated financial
statements on a going concern basis which contemplates continuity of normal business activities, the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The operating cashflows generated by the Group are
inherently linked to several key uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, volatility associated with the economics of Bitcoin mining and the ability of the Group to execute its business plan.
For the year ended 30 June 2023, the Group incurred a loss after tax of $171.9 million (2022: $419.8 million) and net operating cash inflows of $6.0 million (2022:
$21.6 million). As at 30 June 2023, the Group had net current assets of $65.2 million (2022: net current assets of $75.1 million) and net assets of $305.4 million (2022: net
assets of $437.4 million).
As further background, the Group's miners are designed specifically to mine Bitcoin and its future success will depend in a large part upon the value of Bitcoin, and any sustained decline in its value could adversely affect the business and
results of operations. Specifically, the revenues from Bitcoin mining operations are predominantly based upon two factors: (i) the number of Bitcoin rewards that are successfully mined and (ii) the value of Bitcoin. A decline in the market price of
Bitcoin, increases in the difficulty of Bitcoin mining, changes in the regulatory environment, the halving event expected in the fourth fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2024 and/or adverse changes in other inherent risks would significantly negatively
impact the Group’s operations. Due to the volatility of the Bitcoin price and the effects of the other aforementioned factors, there can be no guarantee that future mining operations will be profitable.
The strategy to mitigate these risks and uncertainties is to try execute a business plan aimed at operational efficiency, revenue growth, improving overall mining profit, managing operating expenses and working capital requirements, maintaining
potential capital expenditure optionality, and securing additional financing, as needed, through one or more debt and/or equity capital raisings.
The continuing viability of the Group and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due are therefore significantly dependent upon several factors. These factors have
been considered in preparing a cash flow forecast over the next 12 months to consider the going concern of the Group. The key assumptions include:
| • |
A base case scenario assuming recent Bitcoin prices and global hashrate, with a reduction in global hashrate following the halving event in the fourth fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2024;
|
| • |
Four operational sites with installed nameplate capacity of 180MW; 30MW Canal Flats (BC, Canada), 80MW Mackenzie (BC, Canada), 50MW Prince George (BC, Canada), and 20MW Childress (Texas, USA); and
|
| • |
Continued development and expansion of the site at Childress, Texas.
|
The key assumptions have been stress tested using a range of Bitcoin price and global hashrate scenarios including with respect to the halving event expected in the fourth fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2024. The Group aims to maintain a degree
of flexibility in both operating and capital expenditure cashflow management where it practicably makes sense, including ongoing internal cashflow monitoring and projection analysis performed to identify potential liquidity risks arising and to try
to respond accordingly.
As a result, the Group has concluded there is material uncertainty related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and, therefore, that it may be
unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. However, the Group considers that it will be successful in the above matters and will have adequate cash reserves to enable it to meet its obligations for
at least one year from the date of approval of the consolidated financial statements, and, accordingly, has prepared the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
During the years ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we did not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements.
Historical Cash Flows
The following table sets forth a summary of our historical cash flows for the years ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021 presented. For a comparative discussion and analysis related to the historical cash flows for
fiscal year 2021 compared to 2020, refer to “Item 5. Operating Results and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Historical Cash Flows” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, filed on September 13, 2022,
with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.
|
Year Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
restated
|
||||||||||
|
($ thousands)
|
($ thousands)
|
($ thousands)
|
||||||||||
|
Net cash from/(used) in operating activities
|
6,045
|
21,557
|
1,761
|
|||||||||
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(71,467
|
)
|
(318,115
|
)
|
(81,363
|
)
|
||||||
|
Net cash from financing activities
|
28,240
|
372,038
|
118,025
|
|||||||||
|
Net cash and cash equivalents increase/(decrease)
|
(37,182
|
)
|
75,480
|
38,423
|
||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
|
109,970
|
38,990
|
1,956
|
|||||||||
|
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
(3,894
|
)
|
(4,500
|
)
|
(1,389
|
)
|
||||||
|
Net cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
|
$
|
68,894
|
$
|
109,970
|
$
|
38,990
|
||||||
Operating activities
Net cash from/(used in) operating activities was a net cash inflow of $6.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2023, compared to a net cash inflow of $21.6 million for the year ended June 30, 2022. For the year ended
June 30, 2023, there was a decrease in the net cash operating inflows due to an increase in operational payments including payments to electricity providers, suppliers and employees.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was a cash outflow of $71.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2023, compared to a cash outflow of $318.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2022. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the net cash used in investing activities
primarily consisted of payments for property, plant and equipment. In the year ended June 30, 2022 it consisted of prepayments of mining hardware that had yet to be delivered, payments for infrastructure and mining hardware in operation and a
security deposit in relation to an electricity connection agreement at our site in Childress, Texas.
Financing activities
Net cash from financing activities was a net cash inflow of $28.2 million for the year ended June 30, 2023, compared to a cash inflow of $372.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2022. For the year ended June 30,
2023, the net cash flows from financing activities primarily consisted of proceeds from our committed equity facility.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of June 30, 2023, and the years which these obligations are due:
|
1 year or
less
|
Between 1
and 2
years
|
Between 2
and 5
years
|
Over 5
years
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
|
($ thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Non-interest bearing
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Trade and other payables
|
13,541
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13,541
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Lease liability
|
335
|
326
|
446
|
2,270
|
3,377
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Total
|
$
|
13,876
|
$
|
326
|
$
|
446
|
$
|
2,270
|
$
|
16,918
|
||||||||||
As at 30 June 2023, the Group had commitments of $7.5 million (30 June 2022: $346.6 million) which are payable within the year ended 30 June 2024. These commitments include committed capital expenditure on infrastructure related to site
development. The reduction in total commitments is primarily due to a reduction in commitments related to the hardware purchase agreements previously entered into by
the Company.
JOBS Act Election
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. We intend to rely on certain of the exemptions and reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we are not
required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and (ii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted
by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis).
| C. |
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
|
We are building proprietary data centers that continue to be refined through research and development efforts to further optimize the operational environment and efficiencies, including targeting stable performance
during high and low temperature periods, as well as the life of our hardware.
One recent focus area has been on implementing power cost optimization initiatives at our Childress site in Texas, which enable the transition between Bitcoin mining and energy trading to optimize profitability.
Our growth strategies include exploring the potential diversification of our revenue streams into new markets. In particular, as previously announced in June 2023, we have revitalized our HPC strategy. We believe we
may be able to leverage our existing infrastructure and expertise to expand into potentially offering HPC solutions and target a broad range of industries and applications, such as AI/ML, scientific research and rendering.
Design, research and development have not been significant components of our business, however such activities may become more significant in the future.
| D. |
Trend Information
|
Please refer to our disclosure set forth under “Item 3. Key Information⸺D. Risk Factors,” “Item 4. Information on the Company” and elsewhere in this “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for
information regarding the material risks, business developments, strategies, and operations that are most likely to affect our business and results of operations through 2024.
| E. |
Critical Accounting Estimates
|
Share-based payment transactions
We measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the date at which they are granted. The fair value is determined by using the
Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model and Monte-Carlo simulations which take into account the terms and conditions upon which the instruments were granted. Management has exercised its best judgements in determining the key inputs for the
valuation models used which includes volatility, grant-date share price, expected term and the risk-free rate. See Note 31 to our audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023 for the key assumptions.
Estimation of useful lives of assets
We determine the estimated useful lives and related depreciation charges for its property, plant and equipment. The useful lives could change significantly as a result of technical innovations or some other event. The
depreciation charge will increase where the useful lives are less than previously estimated lives, or technically obsolete or non-strategic assets that have been abandoned or sold will be written off or written down.
Income tax
Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation of complex tax regulations, changes in tax laws, and the amount and timing of future taxable income. These uncertainties may require management to adjust
expectations based on changes in circumstances, which may impact the amount of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position and the amount of other tax losses and temporary
differences not yet recognized. In such circumstances, some or all of the carrying amounts of recognized deferred tax assets and liabilities may require adjustment, resulting in a corresponding credit or charge to profit or loss or other
comprehensive income/(loss).
Deferred tax
Deferred tax assets relating to temporary differences and unused tax losses are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that the future taxable profit will be available against which the benefits of the
deferred tax can be utilized. At the reporting date, deferred tax assets have only been recognized to the extent of deferred tax liabilities if they are related to the same tax jurisdiction. Deferred tax assets in relation to losses have not been
recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position and will not be recognized until such time when there is more certainty in relation to the availability of future taxable profits.
Impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill
We assess impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill at each reporting date by evaluating conditions specific to the Group and to the particular asset that may lead to impairment. If an impairment trigger
exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is determined. This involves assessing the value of the asset at “Fair Value Less Costs of Disposal” or using “Value In Use” models which incorporate a number of key estimates and assumptions. No triggers
existed at the reporting date which suggested any additional impairment of assets was necessary.
Going concern
The assessment of going concern requires management to make judgements based on projections of the operating cash flows generated by the Group, which
is subject to a number of key assumptions. The Group has determined there is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern but has concluded it is appropriate to prepare the
consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis. Refer to the Financial Statements Going Concern section within Note 2 to our audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023 for further information
Provisions
Provisions are recorded for present obligations arising from past events where settlement is expected to result in an outflow of resources. The Group
has recorded provisions for sales tax at the best estimate of expenditure required to settle the obligation. Management makes assessments of provisions based on the expectations of probability of outcome and expectations of settlement which is
inherently subject to uncertainty.
Functional currency determination
The functional currency for the Company and its subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates.
Determination of functional currency is conducted through an analysis of the consideration factors identified in IAS 21 “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates” and may involve certain judgements to determine the primary economic
environment. The Company reconsiders the functional currency of its entities if there is a change in events and conditions which determine the primary economic environment. Significant changes to those underlying factors could cause a change to
the functional currency.
| ITEM 6. |
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
|
| A. |
Directors and Senior Management
|
The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and board of directors as of June 30, 2023.
|
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
||
|
Executive Officers
|
|
|||
|
Daniel Roberts
|
39
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
||
|
William Roberts
|
33
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
||
|
Lindsay Ward*
|
59
|
President
|
||
|
Cesilia Kim
|
48
|
Chief Legal Officer
|
||
|
David Shaw
|
56
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
||
|
Belinda Nucifora
|
50
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
||
|
Independent Non-Executive Directors
|
|
|||
|
David Bartholomew
|
62
|
Chair
|
||
|
Christopher Guzowski
|
38
|
Director
|
||
|
Michael Alfred
|
42
|
Director
|
||
|
Sunita Parasuraman**
|
50
|
Director
|
* On January 25, 2023, the Company announced the retirement of its President, Lindsay Ward. Having supported the Company’s first phase of growth post listing, Lindsay retired from his role with the Company as part of his career transition to
non-executive director roles. Lindsay remained with the Company until June 30, 2023.
** On July 18, 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Sunita Parasuraman to its board of directors.
Executive Officers
Daniel Roberts is a co-founder, Co-Chief Executive Officer and director of Iris Energy. Mr. Roberts has over 20 years’ experience in the finance,
infrastructure and renewables industries. Prior to Iris Energy, Mr. Roberts was an Executive Director of, and the second largest individual shareholder in, Palisade Investment Partners, an infrastructure funds management business based in Sydney.
Prior to Palisade Investment Partners, Mr. Roberts worked at Macquarie Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers in London and Sydney, respectively. Mr. Roberts currently serves on the board of JOLT, a Blackrock-backed electrical vehicle charging business
where he is also the second largest individual shareholder. Mr. Roberts has previously served as a board member of various entities involved in airports, ports, gas pipelines, bulk liquid storage businesses, waste treatment facilities and wind and
solar farms, including Granville Harbour Wind Farm, Ross River Solar Farm, Northern Territory Airports, Sunshine Coast Airport, ANZ Terminals Pty Ltd and Tasmanian Gas Pipeline. Mr. Roberts holds a Bachelor of Business from University of Technology
Sydney and a Master of Finance (Dean’s List) from INSEAD Business School. Mr. Roberts is the brother of William Roberts, who also serves as a Co-Chief Executive Officer of Iris Energy.
William Roberts is a co-founder, Co-Chief Executive Officer and director of Iris Energy. Mr. Roberts has over 12 years’ experience in finance, real assets and
commodities markets, including debt financing and principal investment across resources mining projects, as well as managing foreign exchange and commodity price risks. Prior to Iris Energy, Mr. Roberts worked across accounting and banking,
resources, commodities and real assets at Macquarie Group, Westpac and Brookfield Multiplex. At Macquarie Group, he co-founded the newly established Digital Assets team. Mr. Roberts holds a Bachelor of Business (Distinction) from the University of
Technology Sydney. Mr. Roberts is the brother of Daniel Roberts, who also serves as a Co-Chief Executive Officer of Iris Energy.
Lindsay Ward joined Iris Energy as President in October 2021. On January 25, 2023, the Company announced the retirement of Mr. Ward. Having supported Iris
Energy’s first phase of growth post-listing, Mr. Ward is retiring as part of his transition away from a full-time executive career to pursue additional non-executive director opportunities. Mr. Ward has over 35 years’ operational experience in
front-line senior business leadership positions as Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director and General Manager in the infrastructure, industrial, energy and resources industries. He also has extensive public and private non-executive director
experience and has a strong track record in delivering the highest standards of safety, ESG, operational, cultural, engineering and financial performance in a broad range of industries including renewables, power generation, rail haulage, gas
transmission, ports, waste management, logistics, mining, exploration and mineral processing. Mr. Ward currently serves on the board of Qube, and he previously served on the boards of Whitehaven Coal, Metro Mining, and Dart Mining, where he served
as Chief Executive Officer from 2011 to 2014. Mr. Ward holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (First Class Honours and Institute Medal) from the University of Technology Sydney, a Graduate Diploma of Business Management from Edith Cowan University and
is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Cesilia Kim has been the Chief Legal Officer of Iris Energy since January 2023. Ms. Kim is a senior executive and lawyer with over 20 years’ experience across
renewable energy, water, infrastructure, corporate governance and M&A. Ms. Kim has a strong track record in corporate strategy, major project development and approvals, policy, regulatory reform, governance and risk management. Ms. Kim was most
recently Snowy Hydro Limited's Group Executive - External Affairs, Procurement and Legal with a broad commercial and multi-disciplinary remit, including procurement, corporate affairs, regulatory strategy and legal. Prior to this, Ms. Kim was in
private practice at Allens Linklaters. Ms. Kim holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Laws (Honors) degree from the University of Sydney, Australia, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Belinda Nucifora has been the Chief Financial Officer of Iris Energy since May 2022. Ms. Nucifora is a Chartered Accountant and experienced Chief Financial
Officer with more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services and alternative asset management industries. She has previously held chief financial officer and senior finance roles in both listed and private companies, including Merrill
Lynch, Alinta Energy, Challenger, Travelex, Slater & Gordon and Laser Clinics Australia. She has deep experience in financial and strategic business leadership, including leadership of successful growth companies both organically and through
M&A activity. Ms. Nucifora holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David Shaw has been the Chief Operating Officer of Iris Energy since October 2021. Mr. Shaw is a strategic and operational executive with more than 30 years’
experience working across the energy, utilities and resources sectors in the Asia Pacific and North America. Mr. Shaw has extensive background delivering a portfolio of projects over varied geographies and cultures, and providing safe, reliable
operations to process facilities, manufacturing and water treatment plants. He was previously Senior Vice President Operations Asia Pacific East of global engineering firm Wood, delivering multi-million dollar critical services to complex and
diverse industries. Mr. Shaw has a degree in Engineering from the University of Melbourne.
Independent Non-Executive Directors
David Bartholomew has served as Iris Energy’s Chair since September 2021. Mr. Bartholomew currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Atlas
Arteria, a global owner and operator of toll roads, Endeavour Energy (a NSW electricity distributor) and Keolis Downer (provides public transport operation and maintenance services in Australia). Mr. Bartholomew is also External Independent Chair
of the Executive Price Review Steering Committee of AusNet Services. Mr. Bartholomew’s executive background includes the role of Chief Executive Officer of DUET Group, where he oversaw the ASX listed company’s transition to a fully internalized
management and governance structure and in which he was appointed to the boards of DUET’s portfolio companies including United Energy Distribution (Victorian electricity distribution), Multinet Gas (Victorian gas distribution), the Dampier to
Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline, Energy Developments Limited (remote and waste-to-energy electricity generation) and Duquesne Light (Pittsburgh, USA electricity distribution). He has also held executive roles at Hastings Funds Management, Lend Lease,
The Boston Consulting Group and BHP Minerals. Mr. Bartholomew has also served on the boards of Vector Limited, Power and Water Corporation (NT), Dussur (Saudi Arabia), The Helmsman Project, Interlink Roads (Sydney’s M5 Motorway), Statewide Roads
(Sydney’s M4 Motorway), Epic Energy (gas transmission), Sydney Light Rail, Port of Geelong, various forestry companies and Nextgen Networks (communications cable network), representing investors managed by Hastings Funds Management. Mr. Bartholomew
holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) degree from Adelaide University and an MBA from The Australian Graduate School of Management.
Christopher Guzowski has served on Iris Energy’s board of directors since December 2019. Mr. Guzowski has over 15 years’ international experience in renewable
energy project development across Europe and Australia. Mr. Guzowski founded Baltic Wind, developing large scale wind farm projects in Europe from greenfield to operations. He also founded Mithra Energy, developing 10+ solar PV projects in Poland
since 2012. Mr. Guzowski was the Project Development Director and commercial development partner of Photon Energy, with a major solar PV pipeline under development in Australia. Mr. Guzowski was the Founding Director of ADCCA - Australian Digital
Currency Commerce Association and was a founder of ABA Technology in 2014 (Australian blockchain technology). Mr. Guzowski holds a Bachelor of Business from University of Technology Sydney and an MBA in Energy Management from Vienna University of
Economics and Business.
Michael Alfred has served on Iris
Energy’s board of directors since October 2021. Mr. Alfred is a private investor, advisor, and board member. Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Digital Assets Data, Inc., a financial technology and data company building
enterprise-grade software and data feeds for the digital asset ecosystem, from when he co-founded the company in January 2018 through its sale to New York Digital Investment Group LLC in November 2020. Mr. Alfred has served as an Advisor to the
Chief Executive Officer of Amenify, a real estate technology company, since July 2020. From October 2016 to January 2018, Mr. Alfred was a Managing Director and member of the five-person executive committee for Strategic Insight, Inc., a provider
of data and software to the global asset management industry, which was acquired by Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) in 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Alfred served as the Chief Executive Officer of BrightScope, Inc., a financial information
company providing 401k analyses and tools for retirement plan participants, sponsors and advisors, from February 2008 until it was acquired by Strategic Insight, Inc. in October 2016. Prior to co-founding BrightScope, Inc., Mr. Alfred served as
Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager of Alfred Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment advisor serving high net worth individuals. Mr. Alfred also serves as a principal investor in a variety of industries including technology and consumer
products. Mr. Alfred has served on the Board of Directors of Crestone Group, LLC, a national artisan bakery, since March 2015; HOHM, Inc., a custom-engineered sleeping pod creator, since December 2017; and Eaglebrook Advisors, a tech-driven
digital asset management platform for financial advisors and their clients, since September 2019. Mr. Alfred received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Stanford University.
Sunita Parasuraman has served on Iris Energy’s board of directors since July 2023. During her career as a senior technology executive, Ms. Parasuraman has
built and scaled world-class teams at Meta (Facebook), VMware, Genentech, and Apple. Ms. Parasuraman most recently served as the Head of Investments, New Product Experimentation at Meta (Facebook) and, prior to that, served as Facebook’s Global
Head of Treasury and Head of Treasury for Facebook’s blockchain initiative (Libra). Ms. Parasuraman currently serves on the Board of Baldwin Risk Partners (NASDAQ: BRP), a leading publicly-traded insurance distribution company, where she is a
member of its Audit and Cyber Risk Committees. She also serves on the Board of the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation as well as its Finance, Governance & Nomination Committees. Ms. Parasuraman holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from the
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
| B. |
Compensation
|
Overview
Our remuneration philosophy is to align director and senior management objectives with shareholder and business objectives by providing a fixed remuneration component and typically offering short-term and long-term
incentives based on individual and Company performance and tenure at the Company. Our board believes the remuneration philosophy to be appropriate and effective in its ability to attract and retain the best executives and directors to run and
manage the consolidated entity, as well as create goal congruence between directors, executives and shareholders. Our board is responsible for determining the appropriate remuneration package for our executive officers and independent non-executive
directors and may be advised by independent executive compensation specialist advice.
Our executive officers in Australia receive a superannuation guarantee contribution required under Australian law and do not receive any other retirement benefits.
Remuneration of Executive Officers
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the aggregate cash remuneration paid to our executive officers was $7,758,756 comprising $7,696,698 in cash and $62,058 in post-employment superannuation and other similar
payments.
Our executive officers receive fixed compensation as well as short-term and long-term incentives. The level of fixed remuneration is set to provide a base level of compensation which we consider both appropriate to the
applicable position and competitive in the marketplace. Fixed compensation is comprised of base salary inclusive of superannuation contribution and other similar payments.
From time to time, our board may approve cash bonuses for our executive officers based on individual performance, company performance or as otherwise determined appropriate. Payments of such bonuses will generally be
made in the fiscal year following the year in which they were earned.
We also provide long-term incentives, which until recently were issued as loan funded shares and option grants, and starting recently have been issued as restricted share units, to align our executive officers with the
creation of shareholder wealth. Details of the option and RSU grants are provided further below.
Remuneration of Independent Non-Executive Directors
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the aggregate remuneration paid to our independent non-executive directors was $275,396 comprising $270,624 in cash and $4,772 in post-employment superannuation.
We also provide long-term incentives to align our non-executive directors with the creation of shareholder wealth. Details of the option and RSU grants are provided further below.
$75 Exercise Price Options
On September 14, 2021, our shareholders approved the grant of 2,400,000 long-term options each to Daniel Roberts and William Roberts to acquire Ordinary shares at an exercise price of $75 per option (“$75 Exercise
Price Options”).
The $75 Exercise Price Options will vest in four tranches, if the relevant Ordinary share price is equal to or exceeds the corresponding vesting threshold and the executive director has not voluntarily resigned as a
director of the Company. The initial vesting thresholds are, the VWAP of an Ordinary share over the immediately preceding 20 trading days being equal to or exceeding (i) $370; (ii) $650; (iii) $925; and (iv) $1,850, following which 600,000 of the
$75 Exercise Price Options will vest in respect of each threshold.
The VWAP vesting thresholds may also be triggered by a sale or takeover of the Company based upon the price per Ordinary share received in such transaction. The option holder is entitled to receive in its capacity as a
holder of the options, a Distribution paid by the Company per Ordinary share as if the vested options were exercised and Ordinary shares issued to the option holder at the relevant time of such Distribution. The options are subject to customary
adjustments to reflect any reorganization of the Company's capital, as well as adjustments to vesting thresholds including any future issuance of Ordinary shares by the Company. None of the $75 Exercise Price Options have vested.
Employment Agreements with Executive Officers
The base salaries and start dates are set out below for each current executive officer. None of these employment agreements or director appointments have termination dates. The base salary under the employment
agreements may be increased by our board from time to time. Base salary amounts noted below are paid in local currency and translated at the 30 June year-end rate for disclosure purposes.
Daniel Roberts
Daniel Roberts is a co-founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Iris Energy and commenced with Iris Energy on November 6, 2018. Daniel Roberts also serves as an Executive Director. Daniel Roberts is entitled to
receive an annual base salary of $616,799 as approved by the Board in June 2023 plus other standard employment benefits given to employees in Australia (such as annual leave, long service leave, personal/carers, compassionate leave plus statutory
superannuation contributions).
William Roberts
William Roberts is a co-founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Iris Energy and commenced with Iris Energy on November 6, 2018. William Roberts also serves as an Executive Director. William Roberts is entitled to
receive an annual base salary of $616,799 as approved by the Board in June 2023 plus other standard employment benefits given to employees in Australia (such as annual leave, long service leave, personal/carers, compassionate leave plus statutory
superannuation contributions).
Cesilia Kim
Cesilia Kim has been the Chief Legal Officer of Iris Energy since January 01, 2023. Cesilia Kim is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $376,214 plus other standard employment benefits given to employees in
Australia (such as annual leave, long service leave, personal/carers, compassionate leave plus statutory superannuation contributions). Cesilia Kim is also eligible to participate in Company bonus plans, option plans, share plans or other incentive
plans if they are approved by our board.
David Shaw
David Shaw is Chief Operating Officer of Iris Energy, based in Vancouver. David Shaw commenced with the company in its head office in Australia on October 11, 2021 and relocated to Canada in January 2022. David Shaw is
entitled to receive an annual base salary of $354,042 as at July 1, 2023 as approved by the Board plus other standard employment benefits given to employees in Canada (such as annual leave, long service leave, personal/carers, compassionate leave
plus statutory superannuation contributions). David Shaw is also eligible to participate in Company bonus plans, option plans, share plans or other incentive plans if they are approved by our board.
Belinda Nucifora
Belinda Nucifora is Chief Financial Officer of Iris Energy and commenced with Iris Energy on May 16, 2022. Belinda Nucifora is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $292,652 plus other standard employment
benefits given to employees in Australia (such as annual leave, long service leave, personal/carers, compassionate leave plus statutory superannuation contributions). Belinda Nucifora is also eligible to participate in Company bonus plans, option
plans, share plans or other incentive plans if they are approved by our board.
Summary of Remuneration of Directors and Executive Officers
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the Board engaged an independent executive compensation specialist to assess the appropriateness of executive and independent non-executive director compensation since our
IPO. This analysis included a comparison against a peer group of publicly traded companies and concluded that, among other things, our Co-CEOs’ remuneration has been significantly below peer benchmarks and as such, recommended that our Co-CEO
remuneration be aligned to market.
Details of the remuneration received by our executive officers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 are set forth below.
|
|
|
Salary/Fees
|
Post-
employment
Superannuation
|
Short-
term
incentive
|
Additional
Remuneration
|
RSUs(3)
|
Pre-IPO
Options(3)
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Executive Officers
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Daniel Roberts
|
$
|
513,158
|
$
|
16,936
|
$
|
529,229
|
$
|
1,913,554
|
(1)
|
$
|
299,023
|
-
|
$
|
3,271,900
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
William Roberts
|
$
|
513,158
|
$
|
16,936
|
$
|
529,229
|
$
|
1,913,554
|
(1)
|
$
|
299,023
|
-
|
$
|
3,271,900
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
Cesilia Kim
|
$
|
159,839
|
$
|
8,456
|
$
|
147,220
|
-
|
$
|
25,606
|
-
|
$
|
341,121
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
David Shaw
|
$
|
296,021
|
$
|
2,795
|
$
|
292,885
|
-
|
$
|
79,879
|
$
|
44,376
|
(2)
|
$
|
715,956
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
Belinda Nucifora
|
$
|
260,945
|
$
|
16,936
|
$
|
255,912
|
-
|
$
|
77,554
|
-
|
$
|
611,347
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Lindsay Ward
|
$
|
371,996
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
575,853
|
$
|
(136,484
|
)(2)
|
$
|
811,365
|
||||||||||||||||
| (1) |
Additional remuneration was approved by the Board based on recommendations from an independent executive compensation specialist engaged to assess the appropriateness of executive and independent non-executive director compensation since
our IPO. This analysis included a comparison against a peer group of publicly traded companies and concluded that, among other things, our Co-CEOs’ remuneration has been significantly below peer benchmarks and as such, recommended that our
Co-CEO remuneration be aligned to market.
|
| (2) |
Relates to options granted Pre-IPO in calendar 2021 and the associated amortization for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. All options granted to Lindsay Ward lapsed on retirement from the Company during the fiscal year ended June 30,
2023, with associated amortization reversed accordingly.
|
|
(3)
|
For further detail in relation to share-based payments and key management personnel disclosures (including fair value measurement of outstanding options and RSUs, refer to
Notes 31 and 33 to our audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023 included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
|
Details of the remuneration received by our directors for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 are set forth below.
|
|
|
|
Salary/Fees
|
|
|
Post-
employment
Superannuation
|
|
|
Short-
term
incentive
|
|
|
Additional
Remuneration
|
|
|
RSUs(3)
|
|
|
Pre-IPO
Options(3)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|||||||
| Directors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Daniel Roberts
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5,914,723
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
5,914,723
|
|
|
|
William Roberts
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5,914,723
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
5,914,723
|
|
|
|
David Bartholomew
|
|
$
|
95,667
|
|
|
$
|
4,772
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
26,528
|
|
|
$
|
314,555
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
441,522
|
|
|
|
Christopher Guzowski
|
|
$
|
69,957
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
26,528
|
|
|
$
|
314,549
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
411,034
|
|
|
|
Michael Alfred
|
|
$
|
105,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
41,186
|
|
|
$
|
87,868
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
234,054
|
|
|
|
Sunita Parasuraman
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
| (1) |
Relates to the $75 Exercise Price Options granted to Daniel Roberts and Will Roberts in their capacity as directors, and associated amortization for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 (the Company’s share price as of June 30, 2023 was
$4.66).
|
| (2) |
Relates to options granted Pre-IPO in calendar 2021 and the associated amortization for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
|
| (3) |
For further detail in relation to share-based payments and key management personnel disclosures (including fair value measurement of outstanding options and RSUs, refer to Notes 31 and 33 to our audited financial statements for the year
ended June 30, 2023 included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
|
Incentive Plans
Employee Share Plan
Our board adopted the Employee Share Plan (the “Share Plan”) on July 1, 2020 and our shareholders approved the Share Plan on November 4, 2020.
Issuance of Shares
The Share Plan provides for the issuance of Ordinary shares to eligible persons selected by our board to participate in the Share Plan, subject to such individual accepting the Company’s offer to participate in the
Share Plan and delivering a duly completed application deed for the purchase of Ordinary shares together with the total purchase price of such shares to the Company (to be funded in whole or in part by a limited recourse loan from the Company to
the eligible person). Ordinary shares already issued under the Share Plan on such date will remain subject to the terms and conditions of the Share Plan. No additional grants are expected to be made by the Company under the Employee Share Plan.
Exit Event
On or prior to an exit event, our board may in its absolute discretion: (1) where there is a reconstruction of the Company as part of an exit event (a) provide for the issuance of new shares in substitution of some or
all of the Ordinary shares issued under the Share Plan on a like for like basis, by a new holding entity in which equity securities are issued in exchange for Ordinary shares issued under the Share Plan or any related body corporate of the new
holding entity or (b) arrange for some or all of the Ordinary shares issued under the Share Plan to be acquired by the new holding entity or any related body corporate of the new holding entity in exchange for their fair market value on the date of
completion of the reconstruction; (2) buy back and cancel some or all of the Ordinary shares issued under the Share Plan in exchange for their fair market value; or (3) take any combination of the above. Under the Share Plan, an exit event is
generally defined as: (i) an initial public offering of the Company or one of its subsidiaries or a special purpose vehicle formed for such purpose which directly or indirectly owns at least 50% of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries
to the official list of ASX Limited or any other recognized stock exchange, (ii) a sale to a third party purchaser of all or substantially all of the assets and business undertaking of the Company or its subsidiaries or (iii) the sale by
shareholders in one transaction or a series of connected transaction to a third party purchaser of all of the issued Ordinary shares.
Plan Administration
Our board, or a duly authorized committee of our board to which the board delegates its administrative authority, administers the Share Plan and is referred to as the plan administrator herein. Under the Share Plan,
the plan administrator has the sole discretion to, among other things, select the persons to participate in the Share Plan, determine the terms and conditions set out in any application deed, including the number of Ordinary shares to be subject to
such deed, the purchase price for such Ordinary shares and the disposal restrictions applying to such Ordinary shares, amend any offer related to any Ordinary share before Ordinary shares are issued and determine appropriate procedures, regulations
and guidelines for the administration of the Share Plan.
Plan Amendment
Our board has the authority to amend from time to time the Share Plan, subject to the requirements from time to time of the Corporations Act, and provided that any such amendment does not adversely affect the right of
eligible persons in respect of Ordinary shares issued prior to such amendment without the affected participant’s consent, unless such amendment is required by, or necessitated by, law.
Employee Option Plan
Our board adopted the Employee Option Plan on July 28, 2021.
Issuance of Options
The Employee Option Plan provides for the issuance of options to acquire Ordinary shares to eligible persons selected by our board to participate in the Employee Option Plan, subject to such individual accepting the
Company’s offer to participate in the Employee Option Plan and delivering a duly completed application deed to apply for the options to the Company. No additional grants are expected to be made by the Company under the Employee Option Plan.
Exit Event
On or prior to an exit event, our board may in its absolute discretion: (1) where there is a reconstruction of the Company as part of an exit event (a) provide for the issuance of new options in substitution of some or
all of the options issued under the Employee Option Plan by a new holding entity in which equity securities are issued in exchange for options issued under the Employee Option Plan or any related body corporate of the new holding entity or (b)
arrange for some or all of the options issued under the Employee Option Plan to be acquired by the new holding entity or any related body corporate of the new holding entity in exchange for their fair market value on the date of completion of the
reconstruction; (2) buy back or cancel some or all of the option issued under the Employee Option Plan in exchange for their fair market value; or (3) take the following steps: (a) notify an option holder of the number of options issued under the
Employee Option Plan that will vest as a result of the exit event occurring; (b) make appropriate arrangements to ensure that such options and all other outstanding options issued under the Employee Option Plan are able to be exercised on or prior
to the exit date; and (c) use reasonable endeavors to ensure that the Ordinary shares issued as a result of the exercise by an option holder of its options issued under the Employee Option Plan at or about the time of an exit event are accorded the
same rights and receive the same benefits in relation to the exit event as pre-existing Ordinary shares; or (4) take any combination of the above. Under the Employee Option Plan, an exit event is generally defined as: (i) an initial public offering
and/or direct listing of the Company or one of its subsidiaries or a special purpose vehicle formed for such purpose which directly or indirectly owns at least 50% of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries to the official list of the ASX
Limited or any other recognized stock exchange, (ii) a sale to a third party purchaser of all or substantially all of the assets and business undertaking of the Company or its subsidiaries or (iii) the sale by shareholders in one transaction or a
series of connected transaction to a third party purchaser of all of the issued Ordinary shares.
Plan Administration
Our board, or a duly authorized committee of our board to which the board delegates its administrative authority, administers the Employee Option Plan and is referred to as the plan administrator herein. Under the
Employee Option, the plan administrator has the sole discretion to, among other things, select the persons to participate in the Employee Option Plan, determine the terms and conditions set out in any application deed, including the number of
options to be issued under the Employee Option Plan subject to such deed, the purchase price for such options and the vesting and disposal restrictions applying to such options, amend any offer related to any option to be issued under the Employee
Option Plan before such options are issued and determine appropriate procedures, regulations and guidelines for the administration of the Employee Option Plan.
Plan Amendment
Our board has the authority to amend from time to time the Employee Option Plan, subject to the requirements from time to time of the Corporations Act, and provided that any such amendment does not adversely affect the
right of eligible persons or option holders in respect of options issued under the Employee Option Plan prior to such amendment without the affected participant’s consent, unless such amendment is required by, or necessitated by, law.
Non-Executive Director Option Plan
The Board approved a Non-Executive Director Option Plan (“NED Option Plan”) on 28 July 2021. The terms of the NED Option Plan are substantially similar to the Employee Option Plan. Vesting of instruments granted under
the NED Option Plan is dependent on specific service thresholds being met by the Non-Executive Director, as well as compliance with other terms and conditions of the NED Option Plan. Where an option holder ceases to be a Director of the Company
within the vesting period, the options granted to that Director will vest on a pro-rata basis of the associated service period. The Board retains the absolute discretion to cancel any remaining unvested options held by the option holder. No
additional grants are expected to be made by the Company under the Non-Executive Director Plan.
2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Units
On July 1, 2022 our Board approved a long-term incentive plan under which participating employees have been RSUs in two equal tranches after three and four years of continued service, including a portion the vesting of which is also subject to
the achievement of specified performance goals over this time period. RSUs issued under this long-term incentive plan are subject to other terms and conditions contained in the plan.
4,000 RSUs were granted to Michael Alfred which will vest subject to a sole service condition of remaining as a non-executive director of the Company until 15 December 2022. In addition to and as part of this program, Daniel Roberts and William
Roberts each received a CEO grant of 534,853 RSUs that will vest in part in two equal tranches after three and four years of continued service and in part based upon achievement of a “Share Price Test” being that the last reported closing price of
the ordinary shares on the exchange on which the shares are listed is at least equal to the IPO price of $28 per share for any 10 Trading Days out of any 15 consecutive full Trading Days. Daniel Roberts and William Roberts also received a CEO grant
of 713,166 RSUs each, which have time-based vesting conditions and will vest in three equal tranches on 1 July 2024, 1 July 2025 and 1 July 2026.
RSUs issued under this long-term incentive plan are subject to other terms and conditions contained in the plan.
2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Units
On June 28, 2023 our Board approved a new long-term incentive plan under which participating employees and directors have been granted RSUs in three
equal tranches to vest annually over three years of continued service, including a portion of which the vesting are also subject to the achievement of a total shareholder return test at the end of the specified three year vesting period. RSUs
issued under this long-term incentive plan are subject to other terms and conditions contained in the plan. On July 1, 2023, independent non-executive directors, each Co-CEO and
employees were granted 101,395 RSUs, 1,072,367 RSUs and 964,552 RSUs respectively, as part of this
plan.
Board Composition
On July 18, 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Sunita Parasuraman to its board of directors.
As of August 31, 2023, our board consisted of six directors, four of whom are independent non-executive directors. David Bartholomew is the Chair of our board.
As a foreign private issuer, under the listing requirements and rules of Nasdaq, we are not required to have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, except that our audit committee is required to
consist fully of independent directors, subject to certain phase-in schedules. Our board of directors has determined that David Bartholomew, Christopher Guzowski, Michael Alfred and Sunita Parasuraman do not have a relationship that would interfere
with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under Nasdaq rules.
Our board has the power to appoint any person to be a director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional director (up to a maximum of 10). The exact number of members on our board may be modified from time to
time by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders in a general meeting, subject to the terms of our Constitution. Our directors are not subject to a term of office and will hold office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or
until the earlier of their respective death, resignation, disqualification, or removal.
|
Name
|
Position
|
Year First Appointed
|
||
|
David Bartholomew
|
Non-executive Director and Independent Chair
|
2021
|
||
|
Mike Alfred
|
Independent non-executive Director
|
2021
|
||
|
Chris Guzowski
|
Independent non-executive Director
|
2019
|
||
|
Sunita Parasuraman
|
Independent non-executive Director
|
2023
|
||
|
Daniel Roberts
|
Director and Co-CEO
|
2018
|
||
|
William Roberts
|
Director and Co-CEO
|
2018
|
When considering whether directors and nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills, taken as a whole, to enable the board to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our
business and structure, the board focuses primarily on each person’s background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors’ individual biographies set forth above.
For details of executive directors’ service contracts providing for benefits upon termination of employment, see “—B. Compensation—Employment Agreements with Executive Officers.”
Board Committees
Our board directs the management of our business and affairs as provided by Australian law and conducts its business through meetings of the board and the Audit and Risk Committee. In addition, from time to time, other
committees may be established under the direction of the board when necessary or advisable to address specific issues. The Audit and Risk Committee operates under a charter that was initially approved by our board on November 13, 2021, and
subsequently updated and adopted on February 15, 2023. A copy of this charter is available on our website.
Audit and Risk Committee
As of June 30, 2023, the Audit and Risk Committee consisted of Christopher Guzowski (Chair), David Bartholomew and Michael Alfred. Sunita Parasuraman was appointed as an independent non-executive member of our board
and as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee on July 17, 2023, following which the Audit and Risk Committee consists of Sunita Parasuraman (Chair), David Bartholomew, Chris Guzowski and Michael Alfred. The Audit and Risk Committee is
responsible for, among its other duties and responsibilities, assisting the board in overseeing: our accounting and financial reporting processes and other internal control processes, the audits and integrity of our financial statements, our
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, risk management systems, the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Our Audit and Risk Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Our board has determined that each member of our audit committee is “independent” as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, which is different from the general test for independence of board
and committee members.
Our board has determined that all members of our Audit and Risk Committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules of the SEC and the Nasdaq corporate governance rules. Our board has
determined that each of David Bartholomew and Sunita Parasuraman is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under the applicable regulations of the SEC and has the requisite accounting or related financial management expertise
and financial sophistication under the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq.
Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act requires us to have a majority of independent audit committee members within 90 days and all independent audit committee members (within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange
Act and Rule 5605(c)(3) of Nasdaq’s listing requirements) within one year of the IPO. All members of the Audit and Risk Committee are able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, are familiar with finance and accounting practices
and principles, and are financially literate.
Board Diversity Matrix
|
Board Diversity Matrix (As of August 31, 2023)
|
||||||
|
Country of Principal Executive Offices:
|
Australia
|
|||||
|
Foreign Private Issuer
|
Yes
|
|||||
|
Disclosure Prohibited under Home Country Law
|
No
|
|||||
|
Total Number of Directors
|
6
|
|||||
|
Female
|
Male
|
Non-
Binary
|
Did Not
Disclose
Gender
|
|||
|
Part I: Gender Identity
|
||||||
|
Directors
|
1
|
5
|
⸺
|
⸺
|
||
| Part II: Demographic Background | ||||||
|
Underrepresented Individual in Home Country Jurisdiction
|
2
|
|||||
|
LGBTQ+
|
⸺
|
|||||
|
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background
|
⸺
|
|||||
| D. |
Employees
|
We had 100, 102 and 39 employees as of June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of June 30, 2023, we employed 22 employees in a corporate head office capacity and 78 employees focused on developing our
infrastructure and general operations and corporate support.
The following table describes the number of employees by geographic location as of June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
|
As of June 30,
|
||||||||||||
|
Country
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
|
|||||||||
|
Australia
|
18
|
21
|
11
|
|||||||||
|
Canada
|
69
|
79
|
28
|
|||||||||
|
USA
|
13
|
2
|
0
|
|||||||||
|
Total
|
100
|
102
|
39
|
|||||||||
| E. |
Share Ownership
|
The shares and any outstanding beneficial ownership of our directors and officers and/or entities affiliated with these individuals are disclosed in “Item 7. Major shareholders and Related Party Transactions—A. Major
Shareholders.” See “—B. Compensation—Share Plans” for information on our share option long-term incentive programs.
| F. |
Disclosure of a Registrant's Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation
|
Pursuant to applicable SEC transition guidance, any disclosure required by
Item 6.F will be applicable to the Company from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.
| ITEM 7. |
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
| A. |
Major Shareholders
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with
respect to those securities and include Ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of August 1, 2023. Percentage ownership calculations are based on Ordinary shares
outstanding as of August 31, 2023.
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Ordinary shares as of August 31, 2023 for:
| • |
each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our outstanding Ordinary shares or B Class shares;
|
| • |
each of member of our board of directors and each named executive officer; and
|
| • |
the members of our board of directors and our executive officers as a group.
|
The percentage of Ordinary shares beneficially owned as of the date of this annual report is based on Ordinary shares outstanding as of August 31, 2023.
Except as otherwise indicated, all of the shares reflected in the table are Ordinary shares and all persons listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by them,
subject to applicable community property laws. The information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose.
The principal shareholders have not, nor have they within the past three years had, any position, office, or other material relationship with us, other than as disclosed in this annual report. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees” and “Item 7. Major shareholders and Related Party Transactions” for further information regarding the principal
shareholders. The business address of each principal shareholder is Level 12, 44 Market Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia, unless otherwise indicated below.
|
Ordinary Shares
|
B Class Shares
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Name
|
Number
|
Percentage of
Ordinary Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
Number
|
Percentage of
B Class Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
Percentage of
Total Voting
Power (1)(2)
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Directors and Executive Officers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Daniel Roberts (3)
|
6,000,000
|
8.7
|
%
|
1
|
50.0
|
%
|
36.9
|
%
|
||||||||||||
|
William Roberts (4)
|
6,000,000
|
8.7
|
%
|
1
|
50.0
|
%
|
36.9
|
%
|
||||||||||||
|
Lindsay Ward
|
12,070
|
*
|
-
|
-
|
*
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Cesilia Kim
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|||||||||||||||
|
David Shaw
|
50
|
*
|
-
|
-
|
*
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Belinda Nucifora
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
|
David Bartholomew
|
11,448
|
*
|
-
|
-
|
*
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Christopher Guzowski (5)
|
230,423
|
*
|
-
|
-
|
*
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Michael Alfred (6)
|
756,461
|
1.1
|
% |
-
|
-
|
*
|
||||||||||||||
|
Sunita Parasuraman
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
|
All executive officers and directors as a group
|
13,010,452
|
|
18.8
|
%
|
2
|
100.0
|
%
|
74.2
|
%
|
|||||||||||
|
Principal Shareholders:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Nil
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
| * |
Indicates less than 1%.
|
| (1) |
The number of shares included on this table includes those shares owned by the beneficial owner’s spouse, and entity or trust controlled by the beneficial owner, or owned by another person in the owner’s household.
|
| (2) |
Each member of the Board has been awarded options to purchase Ordinary shares for services on the Board. Shares awarded are issued to the recipient and vest over the term of services. In the event of early termination of services and not
serving for the full term for which the shares were awarded, a pro rata portion of the shares are required to be returned to the Company.
|
| (3) |
Includes 6,000,000 Ordinary shares, including 1,000,000 Ordinary shares assuming the exercise of underlying vested options issued Pre-IPO, and 1 B Class share
held by Awassi Capital Holdings 2 Pty Ltd (ACN 629 819 978) (“Awassi Capital 2”) as trustee for The Awassi Capital Trust #2. Mr. Roberts is the sole shareholder of Awassi Capital 2 and manages its investments and has voting power over the
Ordinary shares of the Company held by Awassi Capital 2.
|
| (4) |
Includes 6,000,000 Ordinary shares, including 1,000,000 Ordinary shares assuming the exercise of underlying vested options issued Pre-IPO, and 1 B Class share
held by Awassi Capital Holdings 1 Pty Ltd (ACN 629 820 499) (“Awassi Capital 1”) as trustee for The Awassi Capital Trust #1. Mr. Roberts is the sole shareholder of Awassi Capital 1 and manages its investments and has voting power over the
Ordinary shares of the Company held by Awassi Capital 1.
|
| (5) |
Includes 46,735 Ordinary shares held directly by Mr. Guzowski, 17,021 Ordinary shares
assuming the exercise of underlying vested options issued pursuant to the Company’s Non-Executive Director Option Plan and 166,667 Ordinary shares that are held of record by Polpo Investments Pty Ltd (ACN 609 642 499) (“Polpo
Investments”) as trustee for The Cage Family Trust. Mr. Guzowski is the sole shareholder of Polpo Investments and manages its investments and has voting power over the Ordinary shares of the Company held by Polpo Investments.
|
| (6) |
Includes 5,000 Ordinary shares held directly by Mr. Alfred, 1,000 Ordinary shares held in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other benefit or retirement plan and 750,461 Ordinary shares acquired by Alpine Fox LP, an entity associated with Mr.
Alfred.
|
| B. |
Related Party Transactions
|
Other than compensation arrangements which are described under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Remuneration” or as described below, since July 1, 2022 through the date of this annual report, we did
not enter into any transactions with any related parties (as defined in the Corporations Act), being: (i) directors or their spouses, including close members of any such individual’s family; (ii) entities that directly or indirectly, through one or
more intermediaries, control us; and (iii) entities controlled by, or acting in concert with, a related party referred to in (i) or (ii).
Deed of access, insurance and indemnity
We have entered into indemnity agreements with each of our directors and certain of our officers. These agreements provide the directors and officers with contractual rights to indemnification and expense advancement
and are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.
Related Party Transaction Policy
Our board of directors has adopted a written related party transactions policy. Pursuant to this policy, our Audit and Risk Committee review all material facts of all related party transactions and either approve or
disapprove entry into the related party transactions, subject to certain limited exceptions. In determining whether to approve or disapprove entry into a related party transaction, our Audit and Risk Committee take into account, among other
factors, the following; (i) whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unqualified third-party under the same or similar circumstances and (ii) the extent of the related person’s
interest in the transaction. Furthermore, the policy requires that all related party transactions required to be disclosed in our filings with the SEC be so disclosed in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
| D. |
Interests of Experts and Counsel
|
Not applicable.
| ITEM 8. |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
| A. |
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
|
See “Item 18. Financial Statements” for the Company’s consolidated financial statements including the notes thereto and report of the independent accounting firm.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Legal Proceedings” in this annual report for more information on legal proceedings.
Dividends and Dividend Policy
Since our incorporation, we have not declared or paid any dividends on our issued share capital. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our board and subject to Australian law. If
our board of directors elects to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earning, capital requirements and surplus, general financial conditions, contractual restrictions and other factors that our
board of directors may deem relevant. B Class shares do not confer on its holders any right to receive dividends.
| B. |
Significant Changes
|
None.
| ITEM 9. |
THE OFFER AND LISTING
|
| A. |
Offering and Listing Details
|
See “Item 9. The Offer and Listing⸺C. Markets.”
| B. |
Plan of Distribution
|
Not applicable.
| C. |
Markets
|
On November 19, 2021, we completed our IPO. Our Ordinary shares have been listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market since November 17, 2021 under the symbol “IREN.”
| D. |
Selling Shareholders
|
Not applicable.
| E. |
Dilution
|
Not applicable.
| F. |
Expenses of the Issue
|
Not applicable.
| A. |
Share Capital
|
Not applicable.
| B. |
Memorandum and Articles of Association
|
The information called for by this item is included in Exhibit 2.1 “Description of Securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)” of this annual report. A copy of
our Constitution is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this annual report.
| C. |
Material Contracts
|
Except as otherwise disclosed in this annual report on Form 20-F (including the Exhibits), we are not currently, and have not been in the last two years, party to any material contract, other than contracts entered
into in the ordinary course of business.
| D. |
Exchange controls
|
Australia has largely abolished exchange controls on investment transactions. The Australian dollar is freely convertible into U.S. dollars. In addition, (other than as specified in "Item 10. Additional Information –
E. Taxation" below and certain restrictions imposed under Australian law in relation to dealings with the assets of and transactions with, designated countries, entities and persons specified by the Australian Government Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade from time to time, including, persons connected with terrorism) there are currently no specific rules or limitations regarding the export from Australia of profits, dividends, capital, or similar funds belonging to foreign
investors, except that certain payments to non-residents must be reported to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, which monitors such transactions.
The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975
Under Australian law, foreign persons require the approval of the Australian Federal Treasurer to acquire more than a limited percentage of interests in an Australian company. These limitations are set forth in the
Australian Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) and the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulations 2015 (Cth) (together, the "FIRB Legislation").
Under the FIRB Legislation, in general terms, any foreign person (either alone or together with any one or more of its associates) is prohibited from acquiring 20% or more of the voting power (including potential
voting power) or issued shares (including rights to, and other prescribed interests in, issued shares) in an Australian entity, whose total issued securities value or total asset value (whichever is higher) exceed A$310 million (or A$1,339 million
for investors from free trade agreement countries, including the United States). All acquisitions of direct interests in Australian entities (generally comprising 10% or more of the voting power or issued shares) by foreign government investors,
must be notified to the Australian Federal Treasurer in accordance with the FIRB Legislation.
If applicable thresholds are met, the Australian Federal Treasurer may prevent a proposed acquisition or impose conditions on such acquisition if satisfied that the acquisition would be contrary to the national
interest. If a foreign person acquires shares or an interest in shares in an Australian company in contravention of the FIRB Legislation, the Australian Federal Treasurer may make a range of orders including an order the divestiture of such
person’s shares or interest in shares in that Australian company.
| E. |
Taxation
|
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of an investment in our Ordinary shares. This summary applies only to U.S. Holders that acquire our
Ordinary shares in exchange for cash, hold our Ordinary shares as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (as defined below) and have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.
This discussion is based on the tax laws of the United States as in effect on the date of this annual report, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and U.S. Treasury regulations in
effect or, in some cases, proposed, as of the date of this annual report, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All of the preceding authorities are subject to change, and any such change
could apply retroactively and affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences described below. The statements in this annual report are not binding on the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or any court. Thus, the Company can provide no
assurance that the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed below will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS. Furthermore, this summary does not address any estate or gift tax consequences,
state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences, or other tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences.
The following discussion does not describe all the tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular investor or to persons in special tax situations such as:
| • |
banks and certain other financial institutions;
|
| • |
regulated investment companies;
|
| • |
real estate investment trusts;
|
| • |
insurance companies;
|
| • |
broker-dealers;
|
| • |
traders that elect to mark our Ordinary shares to market for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
|
| • |
tax-exempt entities;
|
| • |
persons liable for alternative minimum tax or the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income;
|
| • |
U.S. expatriates;
|
| • |
persons holding our Ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedging, constructive sale, conversion, or integrated transaction;
|
| • |
persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of the Company’s stock by vote or value;
|
| • |
persons that are resident or ordinarily resident in or have a permanent establishment in a jurisdiction outside the United States;
|
| • |
persons who acquired our Ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; or
|
| • |
persons holding our Ordinary shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities or arrangements.
|
PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL TAX RULES TO THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL AS THE STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR ORDINARY SHARES.
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a person eligible for the benefits of the tax treaty between the United States and Australia (the "Treaty")
that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a beneficial owner of our Ordinary shares and is or is treated as:
| • |
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
|
| • |
a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or
|
| • |
an estate or trust whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.
|
The tax treatment of a partner in an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that holds our Ordinary shares generally will depend on such partner’s status and the
partnership's activities. Accordingly, a U.S. Holder that is a partner in such a partnership should consult its tax adviser.
Treasury regulations that apply to taxable years beginning on or after December 28, 2021 (the “Foreign Tax Credit Regulations”) may in some circumstances prohibit a U.S. person from claiming a foreign tax credit with
respect to certain non-U.S. taxes that are not creditable under applicable income tax treaties. The IRS recently released a notice which indicates that the Treasury Department and the IRS are considering amendments to the Foreign Tax Credit
Regulations and provides temporary relief from certain of their provisions until December 31, 2023. The rules governing the calculation and timing of foreign tax credits and the deduction of foreign taxes are complex and depend upon a U.S. Holder's
particular circumstances. Accordingly, U.S. investors that are not eligible for Treaty benefits should consult their tax advisers regarding the creditability or deductibility of any Australian taxes imposed on dividends on, or dispositions of, the
Ordinary shares. This discussion does not apply to investors in this special situation.
Dividends and Other Distributions on Our Ordinary Shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company considerations discussed below, the gross amount of distributions made by the Company with respect to our Ordinary shares (including the amount of any non-U.S. taxes
withheld therefrom) generally will be includible as dividend income in a U.S. Holder’s gross income in the year received, to the extent such distributions are paid out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined
under U.S. federal income tax principles. Because the Company does not maintain its earnings and profits calculations under U.S. federal income tax principles, a U.S. Holder should expect all cash distributions to be reported as dividends for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. Such dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to U.S. corporations with respect to dividends received from other U.S. corporations. Dividends received by non-corporate U.S. Holders may
be “qualified dividend income,” which is taxed at the lower applicable capital gains rate, provided that (1) the Company is eligible for the Treaty benefits or our Ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the
United States, (2) the Company is not a passive foreign investment company (as discussed below) for either the taxable year in which the dividend was paid or the preceding taxable year, (3) the U.S. Holder satisfies specific holding period
requirements and (4) the U.S. Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the availability of the lower
rate for dividends paid with respect to our Ordinary shares.
The amount of any distribution paid in a foreign currency will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of such currency, translated at the spot rate of exchange on the date such distribution is received, regardless of
whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars at that time. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the
dividend income. A U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of receipt. In general, foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as U.S.-source ordinary income or loss.
Dividends on our Ordinary shares generally will constitute foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Subject to certain complex conditions and limitations, any Australian taxes withheld on any
distributions on our Ordinary shares may be eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s federal income tax liability or, at such holder’s election, may be eligible as a deduction in computing such holder’s U.S. federal taxable income. If a refund
of the tax withheld is available under the laws of Australia or under the Treaty, the amount of tax withheld that is refundable will not be eligible for such credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability (and will not qualify for
the deduction against U.S. federal taxable income). If the dividends constitute qualified dividend income as discussed above, the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation will generally
be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by the reduced rate applicable to the qualified dividend income, divided by the highest rate of tax normally applicable to dividends. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for the credit
is calculated separately concerning specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends distributed by the Company with respect to our Ordinary shares will generally constitute “passive category income.” The rules relating to the determination
of the U.S. foreign tax credit are complex, and U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the availability of a foreign tax credit in their particular circumstances and the possibility of claiming an itemized deduction (in lieu of
the foreign tax credit) for any foreign taxes paid or withheld.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Ordinary Shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company considerations discussed below, upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our Ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to
the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Ordinary shares. A U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in our Ordinary shares generally will equal the cost of such Ordinary shares. Generally, any such gain or
loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period in our Ordinary shares exceeds one year. Non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term
capital gain at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.
Gain or loss, if any, realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of our Ordinary shares generally will be treated as U.S. source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes. The use of
U.S. foreign tax credits relating to any Australian tax imposed upon the sale or other disposition of our Ordinary shares may be unavailable or limited. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the tax consequences if Australian
taxes are imposed on or connected with a sale or other disposition of our Ordinary shares and their ability to credit any Australian tax against their U.S. federal income tax liability.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
The Company will be classified as a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”) for any taxable year if either: (a) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income” for
purposes of the PFIC rules or (b) at least 50% of the value of its assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, passive income
includes interest, dividends and other investment income, with certain exceptions. Cash and cash-equivalents generally are passive assets for these purposes, and digital assets are likely to be passive assets for these purposes as well. Goodwill is
active to the extent attributable to activities that produce or are intended to produce active income. The PFIC rules also contain a look-through rule whereby the Company will be treated as owning its proportionate share of the gross assets and
earning its proportionate share of the gross income of any other corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the stock.
Under the PFIC rules, if the Company were considered a PFIC at any time that a U.S. Holder holds our Ordinary shares, the Company would continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such investment unless (i) the
Company ceases to be a PFIC and (ii) the U.S. Holder made a “deemed sale” election under the PFIC rules.
Based on the current and anticipated composition of the income, assets, and operations of the Company and the expected price of our
Ordinary shares, the Company does not expect to be treated as a PFIC for the current taxable year. However, whether the Company is treated as a PFIC is a factual determination made on an annual basis after the close of each taxable year. This
determination will depend on, among other things, the ownership and the composition of the Company’s income and assets, as well as the relative value of the Company’s assets (which may fluctuate with the Company’s market capitalization), at the
relevant time. Under circumstances where our cash is not deployed for active purposes, our risk of being a PFIC may increase. Fluctuations in the Company's
market capitalization can also affect our PFIC status because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and
unbooked intangibles, may be determined by reference to the market capitalization from time to time (which has been, and may continue to be, volatile). In particular, there is a risk that we may be a PFIC in subsequent taxable years if there is a
decline in the market capitalization and the value of our goodwill is determined by reference to our market capitalization. Moreover, the application of the PFIC rules to digital assets and transactions related thereto is subject to uncertainty.
Among other things, the IRS has issued limited guidance on the treatment of income from mining digital assets. The IRS or a court may disagree with the Company’s determinations, including how the Company determines the value of the Company’s
assets and the percentage of the Company’s assets that are passive assets under the PFIC rules. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will not be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or for any future taxable year.
If the Company is considered a PFIC at any time that a U.S. Holder holds our Ordinary shares, any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition of our Ordinary shares, as well as the amount of any
“excess distribution” (defined below) received by the U.S. Holder, would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for our Ordinary shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition (or the taxable
year of receipt, in the case of an excess distribution) and to any year before the Company became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for
individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed. For the purposes of these rules, an excess distribution is the amount by which any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on our Ordinary
shares exceeds 125% of the average of the annual distributions on our Ordinary shares received during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter. Certain elections may be available that would result in
alternative treatments (such as mark-to-market treatment) of our Ordinary shares if the Company is considered a PFIC. Special rules apply for calculating the amount of the foreign tax credit with respect to excess distributions by a PFIC.
If the Company is considered a PFIC, a U.S. Holder will also be subject to annual information reporting requirements. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers about the potential application of the PFIC rules to
an investment in our Ordinary shares.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments with respect to our Ordinary shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange, or redemption of our Ordinary shares may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and U.S. backup withholding. A U.S.
Holder may be eligible for an exemption from backup withholding if the U.S. Holder furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification or is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders who are
required to establish their exempt status may be required to provide such certification on IRS Form W-9. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding applying the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and such U.S. Holder may obtain a refund of any excess
amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.
Additional Information Reporting Requirements
Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals (and certain entities) that hold an interest in “specified foreign financial assets” (which may include our Ordinary shares) are required to report information relating to such
assets, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for our Ordinary shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions). Penalties can apply if U.S. Holders fail to satisfy such reporting requirements. U.S. Holders
should consult their tax advisers regarding the applicability of these requirements to their acquisition and ownership of our Ordinary shares.
THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A GENERAL SUMMARY. IT DOES NOT COVER ALL TAX MATTERS THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO YOU. EACH PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISER ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
AN INVESTMENT IN OUR ORDINARY SHARES UNDER ITS CIRCUMSTANCES.
Material Australian Tax Considerations
In this section, we provide a general summary of the material Australian income tax, stamp duty, and goods and services tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership, and disposal by the
absolute beneficial owners of the Ordinary shares issued by Iris Energy.
This section is based upon existing Australian tax law as of the date of this annual report, which is subject to change, possibly retrospectively. This discussion does not address all aspects of Australian tax law,
which may be important to particular investors in light of their investment circumstances, such as shares held by investors subject to special tax rules (for example, financial institutions, insurance companies, or tax-exempt organizations).
It does not purport to address all possible tax situations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase, own, or deposit our Ordinary shares. It is included herein solely for preliminary information purposes and is
not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice. Iris Energy and their officers, employees, taxation or other advisers do not accept any liability or responsibility in respect of any statement concerning taxation
consequences or the taxation consequences.
Prospective purchasers of our Ordinary shares should consult their tax advisers on the applicable tax consequences related to the ownership of our Ordinary shares, based on their particular circumstances.
The comments in this section deal only with the Australian taxation implications of the ownership and disposition of Iris Energy Ordinary shares if you hold your Iris Energy Ordinary shares as investments on a capital
account. In addition, this summary does not discuss any non-Australian or state tax considerations, other than stamp duty and goods and services tax.
For this summary, a holder of our Ordinary shares that is not an Australian tax resident and is not carrying on business in Australia at or through a permanent establishment is referred to as a “Non-Australian Holder.”
Conversely, for the purposes of this summary, a holder that is an Australian tax resident or is carrying on business in Australia at or through a permanent establishment is referred to as an “Australian Resident
Holder.”
Please be aware that the residence concept used in this section applies for Australian tax assessment purposes only. Any reference in this section to a tax, duty, levy impost, or other charge or withholding of a
similar nature refers to Australia's tax laws and/or concepts only. Also, please note that a reference to Australian income tax encompasses corporate income tax and personal income tax generally.
Taxation of the Company
As the Company is a fully taxable Australian company, its taxable income is subject to corporate income tax in Australia. All Australian companies are subject to a corporate income tax rate of 30%, other than those
classified as a “base rate company”, which are businesses with revenue of less than A$50 million that are subject to a reduced corporate income tax rate of 25% for the 2022/2023 income year. The Company is not considered a base rate company for the
year ended June 30, 2023.
Taxation of Australian Resident Holders
Taxation of Dividends
Dividends paid by us on our Ordinary shares should constitute the assessable income of an Australian Resident Holder. Australia operates a dividend imputation system under which dividends may be declared to be
“franked” to the extent they are paid out of company profits that have been subject to Australian income tax.
Individuals and complying superannuation entities
Australian Resident Holders who are individuals or complying superannuation entities should include the dividend in their assessable income in the year the dividend is paid, together with any franking credit attached
to that dividend.
Subject to the comments concerning ‘Qualified Persons’ below, such Australian Resident Holders should generally be entitled to a tax offset equal to the franking credit attached to the dividend. The tax offset can be
applied to reduce the tax payable on the investor’s taxable income. Where the tax offset exceeds the tax payable on the investor’s taxable income, the investor should be entitled to a tax refund equal to the excess.
To the extent that the dividend is unfranked, an Australian individual Shareholder will generally be taxed at their prevailing marginal rate on the dividend received (with no tax offset). Complying Australian
superannuation entities will generally be taxed at the prevailing rate for complying superannuation entities on the dividend received (with no tax offset).
Companies
Australian Resident Holders that are companies are also required to include both the dividend and the associated franking credits (if any) in their assessable income.
Subject to the comments in relation to ‘Qualified Persons’ below, such companies should be entitled to a tax offset up to the amount of the franking credit attached to the dividend. Likewise, the company should
generally be entitled to a credit in its own franking account to the extent of the franking credits attached to the distribution received. This will allow the Australian Resident Holders that are companies to pass on the franking credits to its
investor(s) on the subsequent payment of franked dividends.
Excess franking credits received by the company shareholder will not give rise to a refund entitlement for a company but may be converted into carry forward tax losses instead. This is subject to specific rules on how
the carry forward tax loss is calculated and utilized in future years. For completeness, this tax loss cannot be carried back under the loss carry back tax offset rules introduced in the 2020-21 Federal Budget.
Trusts and partnerships
Australian Resident Holders who are trustees (other than trustees of complying superannuation entities, which are dealt with above) or partnerships are also required to include any dividends and any franking credits in
calculating the net income of the trust or partnership. Where a fully franked or partially franked dividend is received, the relevant beneficiary or partner may be entitled to a tax offset in respect of any franking credits distributed to the
relevant beneficiary or partner as applicable.
To the extent that the dividend is unfranked, an Australian trustee (other than trustees of complying superannuation entities) or partnerships, will be required to include the unfranked dividend in the net income of
the trust or partnership. The relevant beneficiary will be taxed at the relevant prevailing tax rate on their share of the net income of the trust or partnership (with no tax offset).
Qualified Persons
The benefit of franking credits can be denied where an Australian Resident Holder is not a ‘qualified person’ in which case the Holder will not be required to include an amount for the franking credits in their
assessable income nor will they be entitled to a tax offset.
Broadly, to be a qualified person, a shareholder must satisfy the holding period rule and, if necessary, the related payment rule. The holding period rule requires a shareholder to hold the shares ‘at risk’ for at
least 45 days continuously during the qualification period - starting from the day after acquiring the shares and ending 45 days after the shares become ex-dividend - in order to qualify for franking benefits.
This holding period rule is subject to certain exceptions, including where the total franking offsets of an individual in a year of income do not exceed A$5,000.
Whether you are qualified person is a complex tax issue which requires analysis based on each shareholder’s individual circumstances. Iris Energy ordinary shareholders should obtain their own tax advice to determine if
these requirements have been satisfied.
Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) Implications
Disposal of shares
For Australian Resident Holders, who hold their Ordinary shares on capital account, the future disposal of Ordinary shares will give rise to a CGT event at the time which the legal and beneficial ownership of the
Ordinary shares are disposed of. Australian Resident Holders will derive a capital gain on the disposal of their Ordinary shares in Iris Energy to the extent that the capital proceeds exceed the cost base of their Ordinary shares.
A capital loss will be made where the capital proceeds are less than the cost base of their Ordinary shares. Where a capital loss is made, capital losses can only be offset against capital gains derived in the same or
later incomes years. They cannot be offset against ordinary income nor carried back to offset net capital gains arising in earlier income years. Capital losses may be carried forward to future income years subject to the satisfaction of the
Australian loss testing provisions.
Capital Proceeds
The capital proceeds should generally be equal to any consideration received by the Australian Resident Holder in respect to the disposal of their Iris Energy Ordinary share/s.
Cost base of Iris Energy Ordinary shares
The cost base of an Ordinary share should generally be equal to the cost of acquiring the Ordinary share, holding the Ordinary share, plus any incidental costs of acquisition and disposal (for example, brokerage costs
and legal fees).
CGT Discount
The CGT discount may apply to Australian Resident Holders that are individuals complying Australian superannuation funds or trusts, who have held, or are taken to have held, their Ordinary shares for at least 12 months
(not including the date of acquisition or date of disposal) at the time of the disposal of their Ordinary shares.
The CGT discount is:
| • |
One-half if the Australian Resident Holder is an individual or trustee: meaning generally only 50% of the capital gain will be included in the Australian Resident Holder’s assessable income; and
|
| • |
One-third if the Australian Resident Holder is a trustee of a complying superannuation entity: meaning generally only two-thirds of the capital gain will be included in the Australian Resident Holder’s assessable income.
|
The CGT discount is not available to Australian Resident Holders that are companies.
If an Australian Resident Holder makes a discounted capital gain, any current year and/or carried-forward capital losses will be applied to reduce the undiscounted capital gain before the relevant CGT discount is
applied. The resulting amount forms the Australian Resident Holder’s net capital gain for the income year and is included in its assessable income.
The CGT discount rules relating to trusts are complex. Subject to certain requirements being satisfied, the capital gain may flow through to the beneficiaries in that trust, who will assess the eligibility for the CGT
discount in their own right. Accordingly, we recommend trustees seek their own independent advice on how the CGT discount applies to the trust and its beneficiaries.
Taxation of Non-Australian Holders
Taxation of Dividends
Non-Australian Holders who do not have a permanent establishment in Australia should not be subject to Australian income tax but may be subject to Australian dividend withholding tax on their Iris Energy dividends.
Franked dividends
As outlined above, Australia has a franking system wherein dividends can be franked, and Australian resident shareholders receive a franking credit which effectively represents the Australian corporate tax paid by the
underlying company (i.e. Iris Energy Limited).
Dividends received by Non-Australian Holders which are franked should not be subject to Australian dividend withholding tax to the extent of the franking (i.e. if the dividend is fully franked, it should not be subject
to Australian dividend withholding tax at all). However, refunds of franking credits are not available to non-Australian resident shareholders.
Dividends attributable to Conduit Foreign Income
Non-Australian Holders should not be subject to Australian dividend withholding tax on unfranked dividends to the extent that the dividend is declared to be conduit foreign income (CFI).
CFI generally includes amounts received by Iris Energy that have been derived from a non-Australian source, for example dividends received from foreign subsidiaries which are treated as non-assessable non-exempt income
for Australian tax purposes.
Unfranked dividends
Non-Australian Holders should generally be subject to Australian dividend withholding tax to the extent the unfranked component of any dividends are not declared to by CFI. Australian dividend withholding tax will be
imposed at 30% of the amount of the unfranked dividend, unless a shareholder is a resident of a country with which Australia has a double taxation treaty (DTT) and qualifies for the benefits of the treaty. In the event the Non-Australian Holder is
otherwise able to rely on a DTT with Australia, the rate of Australian dividend withholding tax may be reduced (typically to 15%), depending on the terms of the DTT.
Under the provisions of the current Double Taxation Convention between Australia and the United States, the Australian tax withheld on unfranked dividends that are not declared to be CFI paid by us to a resident of the
United States is beneficially entitled is limited to 15%.
Under the Double Taxation Convention between Australia and the United States, if a company that is a Non-Australian Holder directly owns a 10% or more interest in an Australian company (i.e. Iris Energy Limited), the
Australian tax withheld on unfranked dividends that are not declared to be CFI paid by us to which a resident of the United States is beneficially entitled is limited to 5%.
Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) Implications
Disposal of shares
Non-Australian Holders who are treated as the owners of the underlying shares on the basis that they are absolutely entitled to those Ordinary shares will not be subject to Australian capital gains tax on the gain made
on a sale or other disposal of Ordinary shares unless:
| • |
they, together with their associates as defined for Australian tax purposes, hold 10% or more of our issued capital, at the time of disposal or for a 12-month period during the two years prior to disposal; and
|
| • |
more than 50% of our assets held directly or indirectly, determined by reference to market value, consists of Australian real property (which includes land and leasehold interests) or Australian mining, quarrying or prospecting rights at
the time of disposal.
|
Australian capital gains tax applies to net capital gains at a taxpayer’s marginal tax rates. Net capital gains are calculated after reduction for capital losses, which may only be offset against capital gains.
The capital gains tax discount is not available to Non-Australian Holders on gains in respect of Iris Energy Ordinary shares, where they were non-Australian residents during the entire holding period. Where
Non-Australian Holders were Australian tax residents for some of the holding period, the capital gains tax discount percentage is reduced to account for the period of foreign residency during the entire holding period. Companies are not entitled to
a capital gains tax discount.
Broadly, where there is a disposal of certain taxable Australian property by a Non-Australian holder, the purchaser will be required to withhold and remit to the Australian Taxation Office, or the ATO, 12.5% of the
proceeds from the sale. A transaction is excluded from the withholding requirements in certain circumstances, including where the transaction is an on-market transaction conducted on an approved stock exchange, a securities lending, or the
transaction is conducted using a broker operated crossing system. There may also be an exception to the requirement to withhold where a Non-Australian Holder provides a declaration that their Ordinary shares are not ‘indirect Australian real
property interests’. The Non-Australian Holder may be entitled to receive a tax credit for the tax withheld by the purchaser which they may claim in their Australian income tax return.
Dual Residency
If a holder of Ordinary shares is a resident of both Australia and the United States under those countries’ domestic taxation laws, that holder may be subject to tax as an Australian resident. Holders should obtain
specialist taxation advice in these circumstances.
General Australian Tax Matters
The below comments apply to both Australian Resident Holders and Non-Australian Holders.
Stamp Duty
No Australian stamp duty is payable on the issue, transfer and/or surrender of the Ordinary shares, provided Iris Energy remains listed on the NASDAQ and its shares are quoted on that exchange and the
issue/transfer/surrender or Ordinary Shares does not result in a person, whether alone or together with associated/related persons or with otherwise unassociated persons as part of substantially one arrangement, having a 90% or more interest in
Iris Energy (by reference to their entitlement to a distribution of property of Iris Energy on a winding up or otherwise)..
Goods and Services Tax
No Australian GST will be payable on the supply of the Ordinary shares.
Subject to certain requirements, there may be a restriction on the entitlement of Iris Energy ordinary shareholders to claim an input tax credit for any GST incurred on costs associated with the acquisition or disposal
of Iris Energy Ordinary shares (for example, lawyer’s and accountants’ fees).
THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A SUMMARY OF THE AUSTRALIAN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN OUR ORDINARY SHARES AND IS BASED UPON LAWS AND RELEVANT INTERPRETATIONS THEREOF IN EFFECT AS OF THE DATE OF
THIS ANNUAL REPORT, ALL OF WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, POSSIBLY WITH RETROACTIVE EFFECT. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISER.
| F. |
Dividends and Paying Agents
|
Not applicable.
| G. |
Statement by Experts
|
Not applicable.
| H. |
Documents on Display
|
The Company files reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, furnishes current reports on Form 6-K and discloses other information with the SEC pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC that apply to
foreign private issuers. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports and information statements regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our reports (including this annual report) and information statements and other
information about us can be downloaded from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from the investor relations page on our website at https://irisenergy.co/. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into or otherwise part of this
annual report.
| I. |
Subsidiary Information
|
Not applicable.
| ITEM 11. |
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
|
We are exposed to market risk in the ordinary course of our business. Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates.
Market Value of Bitcoin
Substantially all of our current business is focused on mining Bitcoin. Our revenue is primarily comprised of the value of Bitcoin rewards and transaction fees we earn by mining. As such, our operating results and
financial condition are substantially affected by fluctuations and long-term trends in the value of Bitcoin. Bitcoin has its own unique dynamic in terms of valuation, reward rates and similar factors. Any of these factors could lead to material
adverse changes in the market for Bitcoin, which could in turn result in substantial damage to or even the failure of our business.
A 10% increase or decrease in the market value of Bitcoin over the course of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, would have increased or decreased our revenue by $7.6 million for the year and would have had a material
effect on our total revenue as at that date. However, given we sell Bitcoin to generate revenue and cover operating expenses, including capital expenditures, during the year, increases or decreases in the market value of Bitcoin would have resulted
in increased or decreased total revenue for the year ended June 30, 2023. We are exposed to daily price risk on Bitcoin rewards we generate through contributing computing power to mining pools. Bitcoin rewards are typically liquidated on a daily
basis in exchange for the USD or CAD market value thereof and no Bitcoin was held at the reporting period end. See “—Factors Affecting our Performance⸺Market Value of Bitcoin.”
Currency Risk
We present our financial statements in United States dollars, however, we undertake certain transactions denominated in foreign currency and are exposed to foreign currency risk through foreign exchange rate
fluctuations. Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognized financial assets and financial liabilities denominated in a currency that is not the entity's functional currency. The risk is measured using sensitivity
analysis and cash flow forecasting. The Company's exposure to foreign currency risk arises when a Company entity holds a financial asset or liability in a currency other than the functional currency of that entity.
As of June 30, 2023, we had $87.2 million net exposure to the Canadian dollar,
primarily in intercompany receivables. A strengthening or weakening of Canadian dollar exchange rate by 10% would increase the profit before tax by $4.3 million or decrease the profit before tax by $4.3 million, respectively.
As of June 30, 2023, we had $64.3 million net exposure to the U.S. dollar, primarily in cash. A strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar exchange
rate by 10% would increase the profit before tax by $5.8 million or decrease the profit before tax by $7.1 million, respectively.
As we continue our business expansion, we expect to face continued exposure to exchange rate risk from the Canadian and U.S. dollar.
Cost of Power Risk
Mining Bitcoin is a highly power-intensive process, with electrical power required both to operate the mining machines and to dissipate the significant amount of heat generated by operating the machines. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023,
the cost of power represented 47% of our Bitcoin mining revenue. A 10% increase or decrease in the cost of power over the course of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 would have increased or decreased our loss before income tax expense by $3.6
million for the year.
Price Risk
The Company is exposed to daily price risk on Bitcoin rewards it generates through contributing computing power to mining pools. Bitcoin rewards are liquidated on a daily basis and no Bitcoin is held as of June 30,
2023.
Interest Rate Risk
We have limited exposure to interest rate risk, which is the risk that a financial instrument’s value will fluctuate as a result of changes in the market interest rates on variable interest-bearing financial
instruments. As of June 30, 2023, we do not use derivatives to mitigate interest rate exposures. Our cash and cash equivalents consist of balances available on demand which are held with regulated financial institutions and do not expose us to
significant interest rate risk.
Credit Risk
Our exposure to credit risk is primarily related to its potential counterparty credit risk with exchanges, mining pools and regulated financial institutions. We mitigate credit risk associated with mining pools and
exchanges by maintaining relationships with various alternative mining pools and transferring fiat currency to its Australian bank account on a regular basis. Our cash and cash equivalents consists of balances held with regulated, listed financial
institutions. We regularly monitor industry developments and concentration risks with each financial institution and primarily hold balances on demand with A-1 rated institutions (based on Standard & Poor’s ratings).
Liquidity Risk
The Company is exposed to liquidity risk and is required to maintain sufficient liquid assets (mainly cash and cash equivalents) and available
borrowing facilities to be able to pay contractual obligations as and when they become due and payable. The Company manages liquidity risk by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial
assets and liabilities. The Company regularly updates cash projections for changes in business and fluctuations in the Bitcoin price. Refer to the Financial Statements Going Concern section within Note 2 to our audited financial statements for
the year ended June 30, 2023 for further information in relation to how the Company intends to meet its short-term contractual obligations. See also “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects⸺Liquidity and Capital Resources⸺Going
Concern.”
| ITEM 12. |
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
|
Not applicable.
| ITEM 13. |
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
|
| A. |
Defaults
|
Two of the Company’s wholly owned special purpose vehicles, Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3, have defaulted on amounts due under their limited recourse equipment financing facilities. See “Item 4.
Information on the Company—Our Growth Strategies—Equipment Financing Agreements” in this annual report for more information.
| B. |
Arrears and Delinquencies
|
No matters to report.
| ITEM 14. |
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
|
| A. |
Material Modifications to Instruments
|
Not applicable.
| B. |
Material Modifications to Rights
|
Not applicable.
| C. |
Withdrawal or Substitution of Assets
|
Not applicable.
| D. |
Change in Trustees or Paying Agents
|
Not applicable.
| E. |
Use of Proceeds
|
Not applicable.
| ITEM 15. |
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
|
| A. |
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
|
We have evaluated, with the participation of our Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange
Act) as of June 30, 2023. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. There are inherent limitations to the
effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only
provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
Based on such evaluation, our Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
| B. |
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
|
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Internal
control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS accounting standards and includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit 144 Table of
Contents preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS accounting standards, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3)
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2023. This assessment was performed under the direction and supervision of our Co-Chief
Executive Officers and our Chief Financial Officer, and based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Based on this assessment, our management concluded that as of June 30, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting is effective.
| C. |
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly public companies.
| D. |
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
|
There has been no change to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.
| ITEM 16. |
[RESERVED]
|
| ITEM 16A. |
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
|
The board has determined that each of David Bartholomew and Sunita Parasuraman is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under the applicable regulations of the SEC and has the requisite
accounting or related financial management expertise and financial sophistication under the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq. The board has also determined that each of David Bartholomew and Sunita Parasuraman is independent under
Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and the standards of the Nasdaq, for purposes of the Audit and Risk Committee.
| ITEM 16B. |
CODE OF ETHICS
|
On July 28, 2023, we amended our code of ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including our executive officers, and posted the full text of our amended code of ethics on the investor
relations section of our website, https://irisenergy.co/. We intend to disclose future amendments to our code of ethics, or any waivers of such code, on our website or in public filings. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference
into or otherwise part of this annual report.
| ITEM 16C. |
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
|
On May 19, 2023, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP (“RCGT”) was appointed as our independent registered public accounting firm upon recommendation by the Audit and Risk Committee to the Board and the approval of the
Board. RCGT served as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
Prior to RCGT’s appointment, Armanino LLP served as our principal independent registered public accounting firm for each of the two years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
The following table sets forth the fees billed to us by our independent registered public accounting firms (RCGT and Armanino LLP) during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.
|
Year Ended June 30,
|
||||||||
|
2023
|
2022
|
|||||||
|
(in $ thousands)
|
||||||||
|
Audit fees
|
795
|
515
|
||||||
|
Audit-related fees
|
116
|
126
|
||||||
|
Tax fees
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
|
All other fees
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
|
Total
|
911
|
641
|
||||||
Audit Fees
Audit fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual combined financial statements or services that are normally provided by the
accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-related fees are fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and not reported under the previous category.
These services would include, among others: accounting consultations, U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 assessments, and audits in connection with acquisitions, internal control reviews, attest services that are not required by statute or regulation
and consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. They also include fees for assurance reporting on our current and historical financial information included in our SEC registration statement in connection with our IPO and
also fees for the review of the interim financial information in connection with our IPO.
Tax Fees
Tax fees are fees billed for professional services for tax due diligence and tax consultations.
All Other Fees
In 2023 and 2022, there were no other fees.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Our audit committee is responsible for pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm. All of the non-audit services provided to us by the independent
auditors in following the formation of our audit committee were pre-approved by the audit committee.
| ITEM 16D. |
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
|
None.
| ITEM 16E. |
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
|
During the year ended June 30, 2023, no purchases of our equity securities were made by or on behalf of the Company or any affiliated purchaser.
| ITEM 16F. |
CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
|
As previously disclosed in our current report on Form 6-K furnished on May 22, 2023, on May 19, 2023, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP (“RCGT”) was appointed as our independent registered public accounting firm upon
recommendation by the Audit and Risk Committee to the Board and the approval of the Board, to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
Effective May 17, 2023, Armanino LLP (“Armanino”) declined to stand for re-appointment as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
Armanino’s audit reports dated September 13, 2022 and September 30, 2021 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 did not contain an adverse opinion
or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except that (i) the audit report dated September 13, 2022 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 contained a separate paragraph stating that “significant uncertainties exist about the Group’s ability to generate positive free cash flow and raise sufficient capital to fund outstanding purchase commitments. These
conditions raise substantial doubt about the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern”, and (ii) the audit report dated September 30, 2021 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021
contained a separate paragraph stating that “significant uncertainties exist about the Company’s ability to generate positive free cash flow, convert the various tranches of convertible notes into equity as and when they are due for conversion, and
raise sufficient capital to fund outstanding purchase commitments. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.”
Armanino was not required to issue an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 and the subsequent interim period through May 17, 2023, there were (i) no “disagreements” within the meaning of Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of the instructions to Form 20-F
between the Company and Armanino on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to Armanino’s satisfaction, would have caused Armanino to make reference
thereto in its audit reports, and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of the instructions to Form 20-F.
The text above is substantially the same as that which was included in our report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on May 22, 2023, which was provided to Armanino and on which we requested and received
from Armanino a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not Armanino agrees with the statements therein. A copy of Armanino’s letter, dated September 13, 2023, is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 16.1 to this annual report.
| ITEM 16G. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
Foreign Private Issuer Status
As a “foreign private issuer,” as defined by the SEC, we are permitted to follow home country corporate governance practices instead of certain corporate governance practices required by the Nasdaq for U.S. domestic
issuers. While we intend to follow most Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards, we intend to follow Australian law for certain corporate governance practices in lieu of Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards as follows:
| • |
exemption from the requirement to have a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee composed solely of independent members of the board of directors;
|
| • |
exemption from quorum requirements applicable to meetings of shareholders under Nasdaq rules. In accordance with generally accepted business practice and Australian law, our Constitution provides quorum requirements that are generally
applicable to meetings of shareholders under Australian law (see Exhibit 2.1 “Description of Securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act” to this annual report for more detail);
|
| • |
exemption from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to domestic issuers requiring disclosure within four business days of any determination to grant a waiver of the code of business conduct and ethics to directors
and officers. Although we will require board approval of any such waiver, we may choose not to disclose the waiver in the manner set forth in the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards, as permitted by the foreign private issuer
exemption; and
|
| • |
exemption from the requirement to obtain shareholder approval for certain issuances of securities, including shareholder approval of employee share plans.
|
We intend to follow our home country, Australia, practices in lieu of the foregoing requirements. Although we currently rely on home country corporate governance practices in lieu of
certain of the rules in the Nasdaq Rule 5600 series and Rule 5220(d), we must comply with Nasdaq’s Notification of Noncompliance requirement (Nasdaq Rule 5625) and the Voting Rights requirement (Nasdaq Rule 5640). Further, we must have an
audit committee that satisfies Nasdaq Rule 5605(c)(3), which addresses audit committee responsibilities and authority and requires that the audit committee consist of members who meet the independence requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(ii).
Although we currently comply with the Nasdaq corporate governance rules applicable other than as noted above, we may in the future decide to use the foreign private issuer exemption with respect to some or all of any
other Nasdaq corporate governance rules where we are permitted to follow our home country governance requirements in lieu of such Nasdaq rules.
Because we are a foreign private issuer, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are not subject to short-swing profit and insider trading reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. They
will, however, be subject to the obligations to report changes in share ownership under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules.
| ITEM 16H. |
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
|
Not applicable.
| ITEM 16I. |
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
|
Not applicable.
| ITEM 16J. |
INSIDER TRADING POLICIES
|
Pursuant to applicable SEC transition guidance, the disclosure required by Item 16J will be applicable to the Company from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.
Pursuant to applicable SEC transition guidance, the disclosure required by Item 16K will be applicable to the Company from the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2024.
| ITEM 17. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
We have responded to Item 18 in lieu of this item.
| ITEM 18. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
See our audited consolidated financial statements beginning at page F-1.
| ITEM 19. |
EXHIBITS
|
The following documents are filed as part of this annual report:
|
Exhibit No.
|
Exhibit
|
|
|
Description of Securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
|
||
|
Constitution of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-260488) filed with the SEC on October 25, 2021).
|
||
|
Certificate of Registration on Change of Name and Conversion to a Public Company dated October 7, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1
(File No. 333-260488) filed with the SEC on October 25, 2021).
|
||
|
List of subsidiaries of the Registrant.
|
||
|
2021 Non-Executive Director Option Plan, and forms of award agreements thereunder (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-260488)
filed with the SEC on October 25, 2021).
|
||
|
Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by and between Iris Energy Limited and each director and executive officer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-260488) filed with the SEC on October 25, 2021).
|
||
|
Ordinary Shares Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2022, by and between Iris Energy Ltd. and B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1
to the Registrant’s Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on September 23, 2022).
|
||
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2022, by and between Iris Energy Ltd. and B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to
the Registrant’s Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on September 23, 2022).
|
||
|
Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Co-Chief Executive Officer.
|
||
|
Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Co-Chief Executive Officer.
|
||
|
Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Financial Officer.
|
||
|
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of the Co-Chief Executive Officer.
|
||
|
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of the Co-Chief Executive Officer.
|
||
|
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of the Chief Financial Officer.
|
||
|
Consent of Armanino LLP.
|
||
|
Consent of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP.
|
||
|
Letter from Armanino LLP, dated September 13, 2023.
|
||
|
101.INS
|
Inline XBRL Instance Document. (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
|
|
|
101.SCH
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
|
|
|
101.CAL
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
|
|
|
101.DEF
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
|
|
|
101.LAB
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
|
|
|
101.PRE
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
|
|
|
104
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document).
|
| * |
Incorporated by reference.
|
| ** |
Filed with this annual report on Form 20-F.
|
| + |
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
|
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
|
IRIS ENERGY LIMITED
|
|||
|
September 13, 2023
|
|||
|
By:
|
/s/ Daniel Roberts
|
||
|
Name:
|
Daniel Roberts | ||
|
Title:
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
|
By:
|
/s/ William Roberts
|
||
|
Name:
|
William Roberts | ||
|
Title:
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
|
By:
|
/s/ Belinda Nucifora
|
||
|
Name:
|
Belinda Nucifora | ||
|
Title:
|
Chief Financial Officer | ||
Iris Energy Limited
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Contents
|
|
| 30 June 2023 |
| Page |
|
|
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements — 30 June 2023, Iris Energy Limited
|
|
| F-2 |
|
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm from |
F-5 |
|
F-9
|
|
|
F-10
|
|
|
F-11
|
|
|
F-12
|
|
|
F-13
|
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Directors and Shareholders of Iris Energy Limited
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Iris Energy Limited (the "Group") as
of June 30, 2022, 2021, and 2020 and the related consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as
the "financial statements").
In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Group
as of June 30, 2022, 2021, and 2020 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards
Board.
Going Concern Uncertainty
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Group will continue as a going
concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, significant uncertainties exist about the Group's ability to generate positive free cash flow and raise sufficient capital to fund outstanding purchase commitments.
These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Group's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that
might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Group's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on the Group's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Group in
accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Group is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal
control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group's internal
control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements,
whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included
evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial
statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective,
or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate
opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Accounting for and Disclosure of Bitcoin Mining Revenue
Critical Audit Matter Description
As disclosed in Note 2, the Group recognizes revenue in accordance with IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Group operates data center infrastructure supporting the verification and validation of Bitcoin blockchain transactions in exchange for Bitcoin, referred to as Bitcoin mining. The
Group has entered into arrangements with mining pools, whereby computing power is directed to the mining pools in exchange for non-cash consideration in the form of Bitcoin. The provision of computing power is the only performance
obligation in the contract with the mining pool operators. Bitcoin mining revenue comprises of the block reward and transaction fees bundled together in a gross daily deposit of Bitcoin into the Group's exchange wallet. Bitcoin received
from the mining pool operator are remitted to the pool participants' wallets net of the fees of the mining pool operator. The mining pool operator fees are reflected in the quantity of Bitcoin received by the Group and recorded as a
reduction in Bitcoin mining revenue.
We identified the accounting for and disclosure of Bitcoin mining revenue as a critical audit matter due to the following factors:
|
•
|
Significant judgement in the determination of how existing IFRS should be applied in the accounting for and disclosure of Bitcoin mining revenue
|
|
•
|
Complexities involved in auditing completeness and occurrence of the revenue recognized
|
Given these factors, the related audit effort in evaluating management's judgments was extensive and required a high degree of auditor judgment.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our principal audit procedures related to the Group's accounting for and disclosure of Bitcoin mining revenue included the following:
|
•
|
Evaluated management's rationale for the application of IFRS 15 to account for its Bitcoin awards earned, which included evaluating the provisions of
the contract between the Group and the mining pools;
|
|
•
|
Evaluated management's disclosures of its Bitcoin mining activity in the consolidated financial statements;
|
|
•
|
Independently confirmed key financial and performance data directly with the blockchain network, the cryptocurrency exchange, and the mining pools;
|
|
•
|
Tested a sample of Bitcoin awards and the corresponding cash settlement using the third-party exchange data, the blockchain network, and the Group's
bank statements; and
|
|
•
|
Performed certain substantive analytical procedures to determine completeness and occurrence of digital assets earned by the Group as consideration for
services rendered.
|
Valuation (Impairment) of Non-financial Assets other than Goodwill
Critical Audit Matter Description
As disclosed in Note 3, the Group assesses impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill at each reporting date by evaluating conditions specific to
the Group and to the particular asset that may lead to impairment. If an impairment trigger exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is determined. This involves assessing the value of the asset at FVLCOD or using VIU models, which
incorporate a number of key estimates and assumptions.
We identified the valuation (impairment) of non-financial assets other than goodwill as a critical audit matter due to the following factors:
|
•
|
Estimating the future cash inflows and outflows to be derived from continuing use of the asset and from its ultimate disposal.
|
|
•
|
Developing significant assumptions such as future Bitcoin prices, global hash rate, and electricity costs.
|
|
•
|
Applying the appropriate discount rate to future cash flows.
|
Given these factors and assumptions are forward-looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions, the related audit effort to evaluate
management's impairment analysis was extensive and required a high degree of auditor judgment.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our principal audit procedures related to the Group's impairment methodology included the following:
|
•
|
With the assistance of our valuation specialists, evaluated the reasonableness of managements forecast methodology, calculations, and certain
assumptions, such as the discount rate;
|
|
•
|
Inquired with the management team and evaluated the adequacy of management's forecasts by comparing all significant assumptions to historical
performance and current industry trends; and
|
|
•
|
Performed sensitivity analyses over significant assumptions to evaluate the changes in valuation that would result from changes in the assumptions.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ LLP
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 13, 2022
|
|
|
We served as the Group's auditor from 2021 to 2023.
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Iris Energy Limited
|
Raymond Chabot
Grant Thornton LLP
Suite 2000
National Bank Tower
600 De La Gauchetière Street West
Montréal, Quebec
H3B 4L8
T 514-878-2691
|
Opinion on the financial statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of Iris Energy Limited (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2023, the related
consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with International
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
Going concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in note 2 to the financial
statements, the Company incurred net loss of $172 million during the year ended June 30, 2023 and significant uncertainties exist about the Company’s ability to generate positive free cash flow and raise sufficient capital to fund
outstanding purchase commitments. These conditions, along with other matters as set forth in note 2, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also
described in note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial
statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the
U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
|
Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd
|
rcgt.com |
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of
our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we
express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing
procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical audit matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to
be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical
audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts
or disclosures to which they relate.
Bitcoin mining revenue
As described further in note 2, the Company recognizes revenue in accordance with IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company operates data center
infrastructure supporting the verification and validation of Bitcoin blockchain transactions in exchange for Bitcoin, referred to as Bitcoin mining. The Company has entered into arrangements with mining pools, whereby computing power is
directed to the mining pools in exchange for non-cash consideration in the form of Bitcoin. The provision of computing power is the only performance obligation in the contract with the mining pool operators. Bitcoin mining revenue comprises of
the block reward and transaction fees bundled together in a gross daily deposit of Bitcoin into the Company’s exchange wallet. Bitcoin received from the mining pool operator are remitted to the pool participants’ wallets net of the fees of the
mining pool operator. The mining pool operator fees are reflected in the quantity of Bitcoin received by the Company and recorded as a reduction in Bitcoin mining revenue. We identified Bitcoin mining revenue as a critical audit matter.
The principal considerations for our determination that the Bitcoin mining revenue is a critical audit matter are due to the significant judgment in the
determination of how existing IFRS should be applied in the accounting for and disclosure of Bitcoin mining revenue and complexities involved in auditing completeness and occurrence of the revenue recognized. Given these considerations, the
related audit effort in evaluating management’s judgments was extensive and required a high degree of auditor judgment.
Our audit procedures related to Bitcoin mining revenue included the following, among others:
| – |
We evaluated management’s rationale for the application of IFRS 15 to account for its Bitcoin received, which included evaluating the provisions of the contract between the
Company and the mining pools;
|
| – |
We assessed the adequacy of the Company’s disclosures in the financial statements about Bitcoin mining revenue;
|
| – |
We tested Bitcoin received directly to the blockchain using our own node and the corresponding cash settlement using the third-party exchange data and the Company’s bank
statements; and
|
| – |
We conducted substantive analytical procedures, with high degree of precision, which
include tests of the accuracy and completeness of the underlying data, such as confirmation of certain data with third parties.
|
Impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill
As described further in note 3, the Company assesses impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill at each reporting date by evaluating conditions
specific to the Company and to the particular asset that may lead to impairment. If an impairment trigger exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is determined. This involves assessing the value of the asset at fair value less costs of
disposal or using value in use models, which incorporate a number of key estimates and assumptions. We identified the impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill as a critical audit matter.
The principal considerations for our determination that the impairment of non- financial assets other than goodwill is a critical audit matter is that the significant
assumptions made by management, including Bitcoin prices, global hash rate, electricity costs and discount rate, involve subjectivity and judgment in the preparation of discounted future cash flows. These considerations have increased the
complexity of the nature and execution of audit procedures designed to address the risk, and have required a high degree of judgment on the part of auditors.
Our audit procedures related to the impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill, included the following, among others:
| – |
We evaluated the reasonableness of the assumptions and data used by management in the impairment assessment by comparing the replacement costs considered with independent
market data and industry benchmarks, where available;
|
| – |
With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of management forecast methodology and performed sensitivity analyses over significant
assumptions to evaluate the changes in valuation that would result from changes in the assumptions;
|
| – |
We evaluated the reasonableness of the Company’s cash flows by comparing all significant assumptions to historical performance and current industry trends; and
|
| – |
We tested the accuracy and completeness of the underlying data used to calculate the impairment.
|
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
September 13, 2023
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||||||
| Note |
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
(restated*)
|
|||||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||||||
|
Revenue
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Bitcoin mining revenue
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Other income
|
5 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain/(loss) on disposal of subsidiaries |
27 | |||||||||||||||
|
Expenses
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Depreciation
|
6
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Electricity charges
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Employee benefits expense
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Share-based payments expense
|
31
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Impairment of assets
|
16 |
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Professional fees
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Gain/(loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment
|
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
|
Other operating expenses
|
7 |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
|
Operating profit/(loss)
|
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
|
Finance expense
|
8 |
(
|
)
|
( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
|
Interest income
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Foreign exchange gain/(loss)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
|
Loss before income tax expense
|
(
|
)
|
( |
) |
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 9 |
(
|
)
|
( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense for the year
|
(
|
)
|
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
|
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Foreign currency translation
|
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
|
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total comprehensive loss for the year
|
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
|
Cents
|
Cents
|
Cents
|
||||||||||||||
|
Basic earnings per share
|
23 |
( |
) |
(
|
)
|
( |
) | |||||||||
|
Diluted earnings per share
|
23 |
( |
) |
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||
The above consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income should be read in
conjunction with the accompanying notes
|
|
Consolidated | |||||||||||
|
Note
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||||||
|
Assets
|
||||||||||||
|
Current assets
|
||||||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
10
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Other receivables
|
11
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Prepayments and other assets
|
13
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Non-current assets
|
||||||||||||
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
14
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Right-of-use assets
|
15
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Goodwill
|
16
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Deferred tax assets
|
9
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Mining hardware prepayments
|
12
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Other assets
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Total assets
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Liabilities
|
||||||||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
||||||||||||
|
Borrowings and lease liabilities
|
17
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Income tax
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Employee benefits
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Trade and other payables
|
19
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Provisions
|
18
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Non-current liabilities
|
||||||||||||
|
Borrowings and lease liabilities
|
17
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
9
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Employee benefits |
||||||||||||
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||
|
Issued capital
|
20
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Reserves
|
21
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Accumulated losses
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Total equity
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Total liabilities and equity
|
The above consolidated statements of financial position should be read in conjunction with the
accompanying notes
|
Issued
capital
(restated*)
|
Reserves
(restated*)
|
Accumulated
losses
(restated*)
|
Total equity
(deficit)
(restated*)
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
US$’000 | US$’000 |
US$’000 |
US$’000 | ||||||||||||
|
Balance at 1 July 2020
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense for the year
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Share-based payments
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Balance at 30 June 2021
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Issued
capital
|
Reserves
|
Accumulated
losses
|
Total equity
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||||
|
Balance at 1 July 2021
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense for the year
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Other comprehensive loss for the year, net of tax
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Total comprehensive loss for the year
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Share-based payments (note 31)
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Issue of ordinary shares (note 20) |
||||||||||||||||
| Conversion of hybrid financial instruments (note 20) |
||||||||||||||||
| Share-based payments, prepaid in advance (note 20) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Balance at 30 June 2022
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
||||||||||
|
Issued
capital |
Reserves
|
Accumulated
losses
|
Total equity
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||||
|
Balance at 1 July 2022
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
||||||||||
|
Loss after income tax expense for the year
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Other comprehensive loss for the year, net of tax
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Total comprehensive loss for the year
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Share-based payments (note 31)
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Share issuances under Committed Equity Facility (note 20)
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Capital raise costs (note 20)
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Balance at 30 June 2023
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
||||||||||
The above consolidated statements of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the
accompanying notes
| Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Note |
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
|
|||||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||||||
|
Cash flows from operating activities
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Receipts from Bitcoin mining activities
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Payments for electricity, suppliers and employees (inclusive of GST)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Interest received
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Other income received
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Interest paid
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Net cash from operating activities
|
28
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Cash flows from investing activities
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Payments for property, plant and equipment net of mining hardware prepayments
|
14 |
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Payments for mining hardware prepayments
|
|
(
|
)
|
( |
) | |||||||||||
|
Payments for prepayments and other assets
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Repayments/(advancement) of loan proceeds |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| Deconsolidation of Non-Recourse SPVs |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
|
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
|
14 |
|||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from release of deposits |
||||||||||||||||
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Proceeds from hybrid financial instruments
|
20 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Capital raising costs
|
20 |
(
|
)
|
( |
) |
|
||||||||||
|
Proceeds from mining hardware finance
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Repayment of borrowings
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Proceeds from Initial Public Offering (net of underwriting fees)
|
20 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Payment of borrowing transaction costs
|
( |
) |
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||||
| Proceeds from committed equity facility |
||||||||||||||||
|
Repayment of lease liabilities
|
(
|
)
|
( |
) |
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Net cash from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year
|
10
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
The above consolidated statements of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the
accompanying notes
Note 1. General
information
The consolidated financial statements cover Iris Energy Limited as a Group consisting of Iris Energy Limited
(Company or Parent Entity) and the entities it controlled at the end of, or during, the year (collectively the Group).
Iris Energy Limited was previously known as Iris Energy Pty Ltd until 7 October 2021, when it converted to
an Australian public unlisted company limited by shares. Iris Energy Limited is incorporated and domiciled in Australia. Its registered office and principal place of business are:
|
Registered office
|
Principal place of business
|
|
c/o Pitcher Partners
|
Level 12, 44 Market Street
|
|
Level 13, 664 Collins Street
|
Sydney NSW 2000
|
|
Docklands VIC 3008
|
Australia
|
|
Australia
|
The Group completed an initial public offering (IPO) on 17 November 2021. The IPO was led by lead
book-runners J.P. Morgan, Canaccord Genuity and Citigroup and raised total gross proceeds of $231,538,468 .
Following this issuance, the Company’s shares trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “IREN”.
The Group is an owner and operator of institutional-grade, highly efficient proprietary Bitcoin mining data
centers powered by renewable energy.
The consolidated financial statements were authorized and approved for issue, in accordance with a
resolution of Directors, on 13 September 2023. The Directors have the power to amend and reissue the consolidated financial statements.
Reverse share split
On 4 November 2021, the Company effected a 1-for- reverse share split of its ordinary shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the per ordinary share information has been retroactively adjusted to reflect
the 1-for- reverse share split.
Note 2. Significant
accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are
set out below.
Going concern
The Group has determined there is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s
ability to continue as a going concern but has concluded it is appropriate to prepare the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis which contemplates continuity of normal business activities,
the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The operating cash flows generated by the Group are inherently linked to several key uncertainties and risks
including, but not limited to, volatility associated with the economics of Bitcoin mining and the ability of the Group to execute its business plan.
For the year ended 30 June 2023, the Group incurred a loss after tax of $171,871 ,000 (2022: $419,770 ,000)
and net operating cash inflows of $6,045 ,000 (2022: $21,557 ,000). As at 30 June 2023, the Group had net current assets of $65,229 ,000 (2022: net current assets of $75,148 ,000)
and net assets of $305,361 ,000 (2022: net assets of $437,362 ,000).
As further background, the Group’s miners are designed specifically to mine Bitcoin and its future success will depend in a large part upon the value of Bitcoin, and any sustained decline
in its value could adversely affect the business and results of operations. Specifically, the revenues from Bitcoin mining operations are predominantly based upon two factors: (i) the number of Bitcoin rewards
that are successfully mined and (ii) the value of Bitcoin. A decline in the market price of Bitcoin, increases in the difficulty of Bitcoin mining, changes in the regulatory environment, the halving event
expected in Q4 FY2024 and/or adverse changes in other inherent risks would significantly negatively impact the Group’s operations. Due to the volatility of the Bitcoin price and the effects of the other
aforementioned factors, there can be no guarantee that future mining operations will be profitable.
The strategy to mitigate these risks and uncertainties is to try execute a business plan aimed at
operational efficiency, revenue growth, improving overall mining profit, managing operating expenses and working capital requirements, maintaining potential capital expenditure optionality, and securing
additional financing, as needed, through one or more debt and/or equity capital raisings.
F-13
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)
The continuing viability of the Group and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts
and commitments as they fall due are therefore significantly dependent upon several factors. These factors have been considered in preparing a cash flow forecast over the next 12 months to consider the going
concern of the Group. The key assumptions include:
| ● |
A base case scenario assuming recent Bitcoin prices and global hashrate, with a reduction in global hashrate following the halving event expected
in Q4 FY2024;
|
| ● |
Four operational sites with installed nameplate capacity of 180MW; 30MW Canal Flats (BC, Canada), 80MW Mackenzie (BC, Canada), 50MW Prince George
(BC, Canada), and 20MW Childress (Texas, USA); and
|
| ● |
Continued development and expansion of the 600MW site at Childress, Texas.
|
The key assumptions have been stress tested using a range of Bitcoin price and global
hashrate scenarios including with respect to the halving event expected in Q4 FY2024. The Group aims to maintain a degree of flexibility in both operating and capital expenditure cash flow
management where it practicably makes sense, including ongoing internal cash flow monitoring and projection analysis performed to identify potential liquidity risks arising and to try to respond
accordingly.
As a result, the Group has concluded there is material uncertainty related to events or
conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and, therefore, that it may be unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the
normal course of business. However, the Group considers that it will be successful in the above matters and will have adequate cash reserves to enable it to meet its obligations for at least one year from the date of approval of the consolidated financial statements, and, accordingly, has
prepared the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis.
Basis of preparation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
Historical cost basis
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for
financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss.
Critical accounting estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting
estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where
assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed in note 3.
Principles of consolidation
The principles outlined below are guided by IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated Financial Statements’ and pertain to the preparation of consolidated financial statements for Iris Energy Limited
and its subsidiaries.
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets and liabilities of all subsidiaries of Iris
Energy Limited as at 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2022 and the results of all subsidiaries for the years ended 30 June 2023, 30 June 2022, and 30 June 2021.
Subsidiaries are all those entities over which the Group has control (as listed in note 27). The Group
controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power to direct the
activities of the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.
Where the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognizes the assets including goodwill and liabilities in the subsidiary together with any cumulative translation
differences recognized in equity. The Group recognizes the fair value of the consideration received and the fair value of any investment retained together with any gain or loss in profit or loss.
F-14
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)
Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between entities in the Group
are eliminated upon consolidation. Accounting policies of subsidiaries align to the policies adopted by the Group.
The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. A change in
ownership interest, without the loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction, where the difference between the consideration transferred and the book value of the share of the non-controlling
interest acquired is recognized directly in equity attributable to the parent.
Operating segments
Operating segments are presented using the ‘management approach’, where the information presented is on
the same basis as the internal reports provided to the Chief Operating Decision Makers (CODM). The CODM is responsible for the allocation of resources to operating segments and assessing their performance.
Functional and presentation currency
During the year ended 30 June 2022,
the Directors elected to change the Group’s presentation currency from Australian dollars (A$) to United States dollars ($, US$ or US dollars) effective from 1 July 2021. The change in presentation
currency was a voluntary change which has been accounted for retrospectively. The consolidated financial statements for 30 June 2022 have been restated to US dollars using the procedures outlined
below:
|
●
|
Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income and statement of cash flows for each group entity were consolidated into US
dollars using average foreign currency rates prevailing for the relevant period.
|
|
●
|
Assets and liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position were translated into US dollars at the closing foreign currency
rates on the relevant balance sheet dates.
|
|
●
|
The equity section of the consolidated statement of financial position, including foreign currency translation reserve, accumulated losses,
share capital and the other reserves, were translated into US dollars using the historical rates, being the rate on the date of the transaction.
|
|
●
|
Earnings per share and dividend disclosure were also restated to US dollars to reflect the change in presentation currency.
|
The functional currency of the Parent is Australian dollars, whilst the presentation currency of the
Group is in US dollars. Some subsidiaries have a functional currency other than Australian dollars which is translated to the presentation currency. The presentation currency of US dollars has
been adopted to suit the needs of the primary users of the financial statements.
Transactions in currencies other than an entity’s functional currency are initially recorded in the
functional currency by applying the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than an entity’s functional currency are
retranslated at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the reporting date. Foreign exchange differences arising on translation are recognized in the consolidated statements of profit or loss.
Foreign exchange differences that arise on the
translation of monetary items that form part of the net investment in a foreign operation are recognized in the foreign currency translation reserve in the consolidated statements of financial position.
Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in currencies other than an entity’s functional currency are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the initial
transaction.
Foreign operations
The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into US dollars using the relevant
exchange rates at the reporting date. The revenues and expenses of foreign operations are translated into US dollars using the average exchange rates, which approximate the rates at the dates of the
transactions, for the period. All resulting foreign exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income through the foreign currency translation reserve in equity.
The foreign currency reserve, reflecting the cumulative translation differences, is
recognized in the consolidated statements of profit or loss when the foreign operation or net investment is disposed of.
F-15
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant accounting policies
(continued)
Revenue and other income recognition
The Group recognizes revenue and other income as follows:
Revenue from contracts with customers
Revenue is recognized at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Group is expected to
be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. For each contract with a customer, the Group: identifies the contract with a customer; identifies the performance obligations in
the contract; determines the transaction price which takes into account estimates of variable consideration and the time value of money; allocates the transaction price to the separate performance
obligations on the basis of the relative stand-alone selling price of each distinct good or service to be delivered; and recognizes revenue when or as each performance obligation is satisfied in a manner
that depicts the transfer to the customer of the goods or services promised.
Bitcoin mining revenue
The Group operates data center infrastructure supporting the verification and validation of Bitcoin
blockchain transactions in exchange for Bitcoin, referred to as “Bitcoin mining”. The Group has entered into arrangements with mining pools, whereby computing
power is directed to the mining pools in exchange for non-cash consideration in the form of Bitcoin. The provision of computing power is the only performance obligation in the contract with the mining
pool operators.
In the mining pools which the Group participated in during the years ended 30 June 2023, 30 June 2022 and 30 June 2021, the
Group is not directly exposed to the pool’s success in mining blocks. The Group is rewarded in Bitcoin for the hashrate it contributes to these mining pools. The reward for the hashrate contributed by
the Group is based on the current network difficulty and global daily revenues from transaction fees, less mining pool fees.
Bitcoin mining revenue comprises of the block reward and transaction
fees bundled together in a gross daily deposit of Bitcoin into the Group’s exchange wallet. Bitcoin received from the mining pool operator are remitted to the pool participants’ wallets net of the
fees of the mining pool operator. The mining pool operator fees is reflected in the quantity of Bitcoin received by the Group and recorded as a reduction in Bitcoin mining revenue.
The Group measures the non-cash consideration received at the fair market value of the Bitcoin
received. Management estimates fair value on a daily basis, as the quantity of Bitcoin received multiplied by the price quoted on www.kraken.com (‘Kraken’) on
the day it was received. Management considers the prices quoted on Kraken to be a level 1 input under IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. The Group did no t hold any Bitcoin on hand as at 30 June 2023 (30 June 2022: ).
Other income
Other income is recognized when it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Group,
and the amount of income can be reliably measured. Other income is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. Gains from the sale of other assets are recognized when the
control of the asset has been transferred, and it is probable that the entity will receive the economic benefits associated with the transaction.
Income tax
The income tax expense for the period is the tax payable on that period’s taxable income based on
the applicable income tax rate for each jurisdiction, adjusted by the changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary differences, unused tax losses and the adjustment
recognized for prior periods, where applicable.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences at the tax rates
expected to be applied when the assets are recovered or liabilities are settled, based on those tax rates that are enacted or substantively enacted, except for:
| ● |
when the deferred income tax asset or liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or an asset or liability in a transaction
that is not a business combination and that, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting nor taxable profits; or
|
| ● |
when the taxable temporary difference is associated with interests in subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, and the timing of the
reversal can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
|
Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary difference only if the Group considers
it probable that future taxable amounts will be available to utilize those temporary differences and losses.
F-16
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant accounting policies
(continued)
The carrying amount of recognized and unrecognized deferred tax assets are reviewed at each
reporting date. Deferred tax assets recognized are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that future taxable profits will be available for the carrying amount to be recovered. Previously
unrecognized deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that there are future taxable profits available to recover the asset.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset only where there is a legally enforceable right to
offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and deferred tax assets against deferred tax liabilities; and they relate to the same taxable authority on either the same taxable entity or
different taxable entities which intend to settle simultaneously.
Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation of complex tax regulations, changes in tax
laws, and the amount and timing of future taxable income. These uncertainties may require management to adjust expectations based on changes in circumstances, which may impact the amount of deferred
tax assets and deferred tax liabilities recognized in the statement of financial position and the amount of other tax losses and temporary differences not recognized. In such circumstances, some or
all of the carrying amounts of recognized deferred tax assets and liabilities may require adjustment, resulting in a corresponding credit or charge to the consolidated statement of profit or loss and
other comprehensive income.
Current and non-current classification
Assets and liabilities are presented in the consolidated statement of financial position based on
current and non-current classification.
An asset is classified as current when it is either expected to be realized or intended to be sold
or consumed in the Group’s normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is expected to be realized within 12 months after the reporting period; or the asset is cash or
cash equivalent unless restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period. All other assets are classified as non-current.
A liability is classified as current when it is either expected to be settled in the Group’s
normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is due to be settled within 12 months after the reporting period; or there is no unconditional right to defer the settlement
of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period. All other liabilities are classified as non-current. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are always classified as non-current.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash at bank, deposits that can be withdrawn
without notice held with financial institutions, other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of
cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.
Financial assets
Financial assets are initially
measured at fair value. Transaction costs are included as part of the initial measurement, except for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. Such assets are subsequently measured at
either amortized cost, fair value through profit or loss, or fair value through other comprehensive income depending on their classification. Classification is determined based on both the business
model within which such assets are held and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset unless an accounting mismatch is being avoided.
Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows have expired or have been
transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership. When there is no reasonable expectation of recovering part or all of a financial asset, its carrying
value is written off.
Financial assets at amortized cost
A financial asset is measured at
amortized cost only if both of the following conditions are met: (i) it is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets in order to collect contractual cash flows; and (ii) the
contractual terms of the financial asset represent contractual cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest.The financial assets at amortized cost include cash and cash equivalents
and other receivables (except sales tax receivables).
F-17
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant
accounting policies (continued)
Impairment of financial assets
The Group recognises a loss allowance for expected credit losses on financial assets which are
either measured at amortized cost or fair value through other comprehensive income. The measurement of the loss allowance depends upon the Group’s assessment at the end of each reporting period as to
whether the financial instrument’s credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition, based on reasonable and supportable information that is available, without undue cost or effort to
obtain.
Where there has not been a significant increase in exposure to credit risk since initial
recognition, a 12-month expected credit loss allowance is estimated. This represents a portion of the asset’s lifetime expected credit losses that is attributable to a default event that is possible
within the next 12 months. Where a financial asset has become credit impaired or where it is determined that credit risk has increased significantly, the loss allowance is based on the asset’s
lifetime expected credit losses. The amount of expected credit loss recognised is measured on the basis of the probability weighted present value of anticipated cash shortfalls over the life of the
instrument discounted at the original effective interest rate.
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is measured at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and
impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.
Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis to write off the net cost of each item of
property, plant and equipment (excluding land) over their expected useful lives as follows:
|
Buildings
|
|
|
Plant and equipment
|
|
|
Mining hardware
|
|
The residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted if
appropriate, at each reporting date.
An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s
carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount.
An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognized upon disposal or when there is no
future economic benefit to the Group. Gains and losses between the carrying amount and the disposal proceeds are taken to profit or loss.
Development assets consist of data center sites under development. Development assets are not
depreciated until they are available for use. Once an asset becomes available for use, it is transferred to another category within property, plant and equipment and depreciated over its useful
economic life.
Mining hardware includes both installed hardware units and units that have been delivered but
are in storage, yet to be installed. Depreciation of mining hardware commences once units are onsite and available for use.
Repair and maintenance costs incurred are expensed to ‘other operating expenses’ in the
consolidated statements of profit or loss.
Leases
The Group assesses at contract inception whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. That is,
if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Group applies a single recognition and measurement approach for
all leases, except for short-term leases and leases of low-value assets.
The Group has elected not to
recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases that have a term of 12 months or less, and leases of low value assets. The Group recognizes the lease payments associated
with these leases as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
F-18
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)
A right-of-use asset is
recognized at the commencement date of a lease. The right-of-use asset is measured at cost, less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, and adjusted for any remeasurement of lease
liabilities. The cost of the right-of-use assets includes the amount of the lease liability recognized, adjusted for, as applicable, any lease payments made at or before the commencement date net of
any lease incentives received, any initial direct costs incurred, and, except where included in the cost of inventories, an estimate of costs expected to be incurred for dismantling and removing the
underlying asset, and restoring the site or asset. Right-of-use assets are depreciated from the commencement of the lease on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term and the
estimated useful lives of the assets.
At the
commencement date of the lease, the Group recognizes lease liabilities measured at the present value of the lease payments to be made over the lease term. The lease payments include fixed payments
(including in-substance fixed payments) less any lease incentives receivable, variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, and amount expected to be paid under residual value
guarantees. The lease payments also include the exercise price of a purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised by the Group and payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the
lease term reflects the Group exercising the option to terminate.
In calculating the present value of the lease payments, the Group uses the interest rate
implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Group’s incremental borrowing rate. Generally, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate.The lease
liability is subsequently increased by the interest cost on the lease liability and decreased by lease payments made. In addition, the carrying amount of lease liabilities is remeasured if there is
a modification, a change in the lease term, a change in the lease payments (e.g. changes to future payments resulting from a change in an index or rate used to determine such lease payments) or a
change in the assessment of an option to purchase the underlying asset. The Group has applied judgement to determine the lease term for contracts which include renewal and termination options.
Goodwill
Goodwill arises on the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is not amortized.
Instead, the cash-generating unit (CGU) to which goodwill has been allocated is tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be
impaired and is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Impairment losses on goodwill are taken to profit or loss and are not subsequently reversed.
Impairment of other non-financial assets
At the end of reporting period, property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets are
reviewed to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If there is an indication of possible impairment, the recoverable amount of any affected
asset (or group of related assets) is estimated and compared with its carrying amount. An impairment loss is recognized in the profit or loss for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount
exceeds its recoverable amount, where the recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal (FVLCOD) or the value in use (VIU). In assessing VIU, the estimated
future cash flows of the asset are discounted to their present value using a discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the asset or the CGU to which the asset belongs and relevant market
assessments. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows which are largely independent of the cash
inflows from other assets or groups of assets (cash-generating unit (CGU)).
A recognized impairment loss
on an asset is subject to reversal if there is a subsequent change in the variables and assumptions that were used to calculate the asset’s recoverable amount. Such a reversal is executed only
when the asset’s estimated recoverable amount exceeds its current carrying amount. However, the adjusted carrying amount after reversal must not exceed the asset’s carrying amount that would have
been determined (net of depreciation and amortization) had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset in prior years.
F-19
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant accounting policies
(continued)
Trade and other payables
These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the
end of the financial year and which are unpaid.They are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.
However, due to their short-term nature, they are not discounted.
Hybrid financial instruments (SAFE
and convertible notes)
Hybrid financial instruments
are separated into the host liability and embedded derivative components based on the terms of the agreement. On issuance, the liability component of the hybrid financial instrument is initially
recognized at the fair value of a similar liability that does not have an equity conversion option. The embedded derivative component is initially recognized at fair value and changes in the fair
value are recorded in profit or loss. The host debt is carried at amortized cost using the effective interest method until it is extinguished on conversion or redemption. Any directly attributable
transaction costs are allocated to the liability and embedded derivative components in proportion to their initial carrying amount.
Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables and borrowings are initially recognized at the fair value of the
consideration received, net of transaction costs. They are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.
The Group de-recognizes financial liabilities when, and only when, the Group’s obligations are
discharged, cancelled or they expire. The difference between the carrying amount of the financial liability derecognized and the consideration paid and payable is recognized in profit or loss.
Finance costs
Finance costs attributable to qualifying assets are capitalized as part of the asset. All other
finance costs are expensed using the effective interest rate method.
Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present (legal or constructive) obligation as a
result of a past event, it is probable the Group will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The amount recognised as a provision
is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. If the time
value of money is material, provisions are discounted using a current pre-tax rate specific to the liability. The increase in the provision resulting from the passage of time is recognised as a
finance expense.
Employee benefits
Short-term employee benefits
Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits, annual leave and long
service leave expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the reporting date are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled.
Other long-term employee benefits
The liability for annual leave and long service leave not expected to be
settled within 12 months of the reporting date are measured at the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date using
the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given to expected future wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures and periods of service.
Share-based payments
Equity-settled share-based compensation benefits are provided to employees. Equity-settled
transactions are awards of shares, or options over shares and restricted stock units (‘RSUs’), that are provided to employees in exchange for the rendering of services.
The cost of equity-settled transactions is measured at fair value on grant date. Fair value is
independently determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and Monte-Carlo simulations which take into account the exercise price, the term of the option or the RSU, the impact of
dilution, the share price at grant date, expected price volatility of the underlying share, the expected dividend yield and the risk-free interest rate for the term of the option, together with
non-vesting conditions that do not determine whether the Group receives the services that entitle the employees to receive payment.
F-20
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant accounting policies
(continued)
The cost of equity-settled transactions are recognized as an expense with a corresponding
increase in equity over the vesting period. The cumulative charge to profit or loss is calculated based on the grant date fair value of the award, the best estimate of the number of awards that are
likely to vest and the expired portion of the vesting period. The amount recognized in profit or loss for the period is the cumulative amount calculated at each reporting date less amounts already
recognized in previous periods.
Market conditions are taken into consideration in determining fair value. Therefore, any awards
subject to market conditions are considered to vest irrespective of whether or not that market condition has been met, provided all other conditions are satisfied.
If equity-settled awards are modified, as a minimum, an expense is recognized as if the
modification has not been made. An additional expense is recognized, over the remaining vesting period, for any modification that increases the total fair value of the share-based compensation
benefit as at the date of modification.
If equity-settled awards are
cancelled or settled during the vesting period (other than a grant cancelled by forfeiture when the vesting conditions are not satisfied), this is treated as an acceleration of vesting and the
amount that otherwise would have been recognised for services received over the remainder of the vesting period will be recognized immediately through share-based payments expense in the profit or
loss.
Fair value measurement
When an asset or liability, financial or non-financial, is measured at fair value for
recognition or disclosure purposes, the fair value is based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants
at the measurement date; and assumes that the transaction will take place either: in the principal market; or in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market.
Fair value is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the
asset or liability, assuming they act in their economic best interests. For non-financial assets, the fair value measurement is based on its highest and best use, determined by
maximization of value by way of continuing use or sale to third party.Valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure
fair value, are used, maximizing the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified into three levels, using a fair
value hierarchy that reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the measurements. Classifications are reviewed at each reporting date and transfers between levels are determined based on
a reassessment of the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are recognized at the end of the reporting period
in which they occur.
For recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements, external valuers may be used when
internal expertise is either not available or when the valuation is deemed to be significant. External valuers are selected based on market knowledge and reputation. Where there is a significant
change in fair value of an asset or liability from one period to another, an analysis is undertaken, which includes a verification of the major inputs applied in the latest valuation and a
comparison, where applicable, with external sources of data.
Issued capital
Ordinary shares are classified
as equity because they represent ownership in the company and do not have an obligation to be repurchased or settled in cash or other financial assets. Incremental costs directly attributable to the
issue of new shares are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to the owners of Iris
Energy Limited, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the financial year. The weighted average number of shares is also adjusted for any ordinary shares to be issued
under mandatorily convertible instruments issued by the Group.
F-21
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)
Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures used in the determination of basic earnings per
share to take into account the after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares and the weighted average number of shares assumed to
have been issued for no consideration in relation to dilutive potential ordinary shares.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) and other similar taxes
Revenues, expenses and assets are recognized net of the amount of associated GST, unless the GST
incurred is not recoverable from the tax authority. In this case it is recognized as part of the cost of the acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense.
Receivables and payables are stated inclusive of the amount of GST receivable or payable. The
net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the tax authority is included in other receivables or other payables in the consolidated statements of financial position.
Cash flows are presented on a gross basis. The GST components of cash flows arising from
investing or financing activities which are recoverable from, or payable to the tax authority, are presented as operating cash flows.
Commitments and contingencies are disclosed net of the amount of GST recoverable from, or
payable to, the tax authority.
Mining hardware prepayments
Mining hardware prepayments represent payments made by the Group for the purchase of mining hardware that were yet to be delivered as of the end of the financial
year. These prepayments are in accordance with payment schedules set out in relevant purchase agreements with hardware manufacturers.
Rounding of amounts
Amounts in this report have been rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars, or in certain
cases, the nearest dollar.
New or amended Accounting
Standards and Interpretations adopted
The
Group has adopted all of the new or amended IFRS and Interpretations as issued by the IASB that are mandatory for the current reporting period.
Any new or amended Accounting
Standards or Interpretations that are not yet mandatory have not been early adopted. The Group believes that the impact of recently issued standards or amendments to existing standards that
are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 3. Critical accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make judgements,
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Management continually evaluates its judgements and estimates in relation to assets, liabilities,
contingent liabilities, revenue and expenses. Management bases its judgements, estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on other various factors, including expectations of future
events, management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The resulting accounting judgements and estimates will seldom equal the related actual results. The judgements, estimates and
assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities (refer to the respective notes) within the next financial year are
discussed below.
Share-based payment transactions
The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees by reference to the
fair value of the equity instruments at the date at which they are granted. The fair value is determined by using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model and Monte-Carlo simulations which take
into account the terms and conditions upon which the instruments were granted. Management has exercised its best judgements in determining the key inputs for the valuation models used which includes
volatility, grant-date share price, expected term and the risk-free rate. Refer note 31 for further information and key assumptions.
F-22
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 3. Critical accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions (continued)
Estimation of useful lives of assets
The Group determines the estimated useful lives and related depreciation charges for its
property, plant and equipment. The useful lives could change significantly as a result of technical innovations or some other event. The depreciation charge will increase where the useful lives are
less than previously estimated lives, or technically obsolete or non-strategic assets that have been abandoned or sold will be written off or written down.
Impairment of non-financial assets
The Group assesses impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill at each reporting date
by evaluating conditions specific to the Group and to the particular asset that may lead to impairment. If an impairment trigger exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is determined. This
involves assessing the value of the asset at FVLCOD or using VIU models which incorporate a number of key estimates and assumptions. No triggers existed at the reporting date which suggested any
additional impairment of assets was necessary.
Deferred tax
Deferred tax assets relating to temporary differences and unused tax losses are recognized only
to the extent that it is probable that the future taxable profit will be available against which the benefits of the deferred tax can be utilized. At the reporting date, deferred tax assets have
only been recognized to the extent of deferred tax liabilities if they are related to the same tax jurisdiction. Deferred tax assets in relation to losses have not been recognized in the
consolidated statement of financial position and will not be recognized until such time when there is more certainty in relation to the availability of future taxable profits.
Income tax
Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation of complex tax regulations, changes in
tax laws, and the amount and timing of future taxable income. These uncertainties may require management to adjust expectations based on changes in circumstances, which may impact the amount of
deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position and the amount of other tax losses and temporary differences not yet recognized. In
such circumstances, some or all of the carrying amounts of recognized deferred tax assets and liabilities may require adjustment, resulting in a corresponding credit or charge to profit or loss or
other comprehensive income/(loss).
Going concern
The assessment of going concern requires management to make judgements based on projections of the operating cash flows generated by the Group, which is subject to a number of key assumptions. The Group has determined there is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern but has concluded it is appropriate to prepare the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis. Refer to Note 2 for further information.
Provisions
Provisions are recorded for present obligations arising from past events where settlement is expected to result in an outflow of resources. The Group has recorded provisions for sales tax at the best estimate of expenditure required to settle the obligation. Management makes assessments of provisions based on the expectations of probability of outcome and expectations of settlement which is inherently subject to uncertainty. Refer to Note 18 for further information.
Functional currency determination
The functional currency for the Company and its subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. Determination of functional currency is conducted through an analysis of the consideration factors identified in IAS 21 “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates” and may involve certain judgements to determine the primary economic environment. The Company reconsiders the functional currency of its entities if there is a change in events and conditions which determine the primary economic environment. Significant changes to those underlying factors could cause a change to the functional currency.
The assessment of going concern requires management to make judgements based on projections of the operating cash flows generated by the Group, which is subject to a number of key assumptions. The Group has determined there is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern but has concluded it is appropriate to prepare the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis. Refer to Note 2 for further information.
Provisions
Provisions are recorded for present obligations arising from past events where settlement is expected to result in an outflow of resources. The Group has recorded provisions for sales tax at the best estimate of expenditure required to settle the obligation. Management makes assessments of provisions based on the expectations of probability of outcome and expectations of settlement which is inherently subject to uncertainty. Refer to Note 18 for further information.
Functional currency determination
The functional currency for the Company and its subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. Determination of functional currency is conducted through an analysis of the consideration factors identified in IAS 21 “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates” and may involve certain judgements to determine the primary economic environment. The Company reconsiders the functional currency of its entities if there is a change in events and conditions which determine the primary economic environment. Significant changes to those underlying factors could cause a change to the functional currency.
F-23
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 4. Operating segments
Identification of reportable operating segments
The Group operates within one operating segment, being the operation of building and operating data center sites for the purpose of Bitcoin mining and
reports to the Chief Operating Decision Maker on the performance of the Group as a whole.
Major customers
The Group generated 100 % (2022: 100 %,
2021: 100 %) of Bitcoin mining revenues through the provision of computing power to two (2022: two , 2021: three ) Bitcoin mining pools for the year
ended 30 June 2023.
Geographical information
Non-current assets, excluding deferred tax assets, are located in the following geographical locations:
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
| US$’000 | US$’000 | |||||||
|
Australia
|
|
|
||||||
|
North America
|
|
|
||||||
Note 5. Other income
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
(restated*)
|
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||
| Net gain on disposal of other assets | ||||||||||||
|
Government grants
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Insurance recoveries
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Other
|
||||||||||||
| Other income |
|
|
|
|||||||||
Note 6. Depreciation
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
(restated*)
|
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||
|
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Depreciation of right-of-use assets
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
F-24
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 7. Other operating expenses
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
(restated*)
|
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||
|
Insurance
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Sponsorship and marketing
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Short term office and equipment rental
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Charitable donations | ||||||||||||
|
Site expenses
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Filing fees
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Site identification costs
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Non-refundable sales tax (See Note 18 - Provisions)
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Non-refundable provincial sales tax | ||||||||||||
|
Other expenses
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Note 8. Finance expense
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
(restated*)
|
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||
|
Interest expense on borrowings
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Interest expense on hybrid financial instruments
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Interest expense on lease liabilities
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Amortization of capitalized borrowing costs
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Loss on embedded derivatives held at fair value through profit or loss
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Interest expense on borrowings includes late fees
and interest charged on third-party loans held by IE CA 3 Holdings Ltd and IE CA 4 Holdings Ltd. See note 17 for further information.
F-25
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 9. Income tax expense
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023 |
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
(restated*)
|
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||
|
Numerical reconciliation of income tax expense and tax at the statutory rate
|
||||||||||||
|
Loss before income tax expense
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||
|
Tax at the statutory tax rate of
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||
|
Tax effect amounts which are not deductible in calculating taxable income:
|
||||||||||||
|
Non-deductible/non-allowable items
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Current year tax losses not recognized
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Recognition of previously unrecognized tax losses
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Difference in overseas tax rates
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Impact of future tax rate changes
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Current year temporary differences not recognised
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Prior year tax over/(under) provisions
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
|||||||
| Deconsolidation
of Non-recourse SPVs |
||||||||||||
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
(restated*) |
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||
|
Income tax expense
|
||||||||||||
|
Current tax expense/(benefit)
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Deferred tax expense
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
F-26
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 9. Income tax expense (continued)
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
30 June 2021
(restated*)
|
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||
| Unrecognized deferred tax assets | ||||||||||||
|
Available tax losses
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Tax effect at the applicable tax rate for each jurisdiction
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Deferred tax asset on tax losses recognized to the extent of taxable temporary differences
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Deferred tax asset on losses not recognized
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The total available tax losses above have not been recognized in the
consolidated statement of financial position. These tax losses can only be utilized against availability of future available profits. These tax losses are not expected to expire.
Recognized deferred tax assets and liabilities
The following are the deferred tax assets and
liabilities recognised by the Group and movements during the years ended 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2022:
|
|
Tax losses
|
Employee
benefits
|
Property,
plant and
equipment
|
Unrealized
foreign
exchange
losses
|
Capital
raising
costs
|
Other
deferred tax
assets
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement in balances |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As at 1 July 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Charge)/credit to profit or loss
|
|
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Charge)/credit direct to equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
As at 30 June 2022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Offset against deferred tax liabilities
|
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As at 30 June 2022
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As at 1 July 2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Charge)/credit to profit or loss
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| As at 30 June 2023 |
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Offset against deferred tax liabilities
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As at 30 June 2023
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Property,
plant and
equipment
|
Unrealized
foreign
exchange
gains
|
Other
deferred tax
liabilities
|
Total
|
||||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Movement in balances | ||||||||||||||||
|
As at 1 July 2021
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
(Charge)/credit to profit or loss
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Charge direct to equity
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
As at 30 June 2022
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Offset against deferred tax assets
|
||||||||||||||||
|
As at 30 June 2022
|
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| As at 1 July 2022 |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
|
(Charge)/credit to profit or loss
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Charge direct to equity
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| As at 30
June 2023 |
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Offset against deferred tax assets
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
As at 30 June 2023
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
F-27
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 10. Cash and cash equivalents
| Consolidated | ||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Cash at bank
|
||||||||
|
Cash on deposit (cash equivalents)
|
|
|
||||||
Note 11. Other receivables
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Current assets
|
||||||||
|
Share issuances proceeds
|
||||||||
|
Advanced loan proceeds
|
|
|
||||||
|
Provincial sales tax receivable
|
|
|
||||||
|
Interest receivable
|
|
|
||||||
| Other receivable |
||||||||
|
GST receivable
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
Note 12. Mining hardware prepayments
| Consolidated | ||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Non-current assets
|
||||||||
|
Mining hardware prepayments
|
|
|
||||||
As a result of an agreement signed on 8 February 2023, the Group
utilized all remaining prepayments under its 10 EH/s
contract with Bitmain, which included a concurrent sale of 2.3
EH/s of the remaining 6.7 EH/s contracted miners to a
third party, to acquire 4.4 EH/s with no additional cash outlay.
During the year ended 30 June 2023, an impairment of $12,961 ,000 was recorded in relation to mining hardware prepayments of which $11,301 ,000 related to the above utilization of all prepayments under
the 10 EH/s contract with Bitmain. An impairment of
$1,660 ,000 was recorded against mining hardware
prepayments held by IE CA 3 Holdings Ltd reducing the underlying carrying amount of the mining hardware prepayments held by IE CA 3 Holdings Ltd to $2,381 ,000 which were derecognized by the Group on deconsolidation of
the entity on 03 February 2023. See note 16.
Note 13.
Prepayments and other assets
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Current assets
|
||||||||
|
Security deposits
|
|
|
||||||
|
Prepayments
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
F-28
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 14. Property, plant and equipment
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Land - at cost
|
|
|
||||||
|
Buildings - at cost
|
|
|
||||||
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Plant and equipment - at cost
|
|
|
||||||
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Mining hardware - at cost
|
|
|
||||||
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
|
Less: Accumulated impairment
|
(
|
)
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Development assets - at cost
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
Reconciliations
Reconciliations of the written down values at the
beginning and end of the current and previous financial year are set out below:
|
Land
|
Buildings
|
Plant and
equipment
|
Mining
hardware
|
Development
assets
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Consolidated
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance at 1 July 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Additions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Disposals
|
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Exchange differences
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||
|
Depreciation expense (note 6)
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
|
Balance at 30 June 2022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Additions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Deconsolidation of subsidiaries |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Disposals
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Exchange differences
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
| Impairment of assets |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Transfers in/(out) |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Depreciation expense (note 6)
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
|
Balance at 30 June 2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation of mining hardware commences once units are
installed onsite and available for use.
Development assets include costs related to the
development of data center infrastructure at Childress, Texas along with other early-stage development costs. Details of impairment expense recorded is set out
in note 16.
F-29
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 15. Right-of-use assets
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Non-current assets
|
||||||||
|
Land and buildings - right-of-use asset
|
|
|
||||||
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
|
|
|
|||||||
Reconciliations
Reconciliations of the written
down values at the beginning and end of the current and previous financial year are set out below:
|
Prepaid
hosting fees |
Land and
buildings
|
Total
|
||||||||||
|
Consolidated
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||||
|
Balance at 1 July 2021
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Additions
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Disposals
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
| Exchange differences | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Impairment of assets | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
|
Depreciation (note 6)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||
|
Balance at 30 June 2022
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Additions
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Exchange differences
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Depreciation (note 6)
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Balance at 30 June 2023
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The land and buildings right-of-use asset represents a 30 -year lease of a site in Prince George, B.C., Canada, a 3 -year lease of a corporate office in Sydney, Australia and a 5 -year corporate office lease in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Note
16. Goodwill
and impairment
| Consolidated | ||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Non-current assets
|
||||||||
|
Goodwill -
at cost
|
|
|
||||||
| Less: Impairment |
( |
) | ||||||
Reconciliations of the goodwill balance at the beginning and end of the current and previous financial year is set out below:
| |
Goodwill
|
|||
|
US$’000
|
||||
|
Balance at 1 July 2021
|
|
|||
|
Exchange differences
|
(
|
)
|
||
|
Balance at 30 June 2022
|
|
|||
|
Exchange differences
|
(
|
)
|
||
| Impairment |
( |
) | ||
|
Balance at 30 June 2023
|
|
|||
F-30
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 16. Goodwill and impairment (continued)
The Group tests whether goodwill is impaired on an
annual basis or when indicators of impairment exist. To determine if goodwill is impaired, the carrying value of the identified Cash Generating Unit
(CGU) to which the goodwill is allocated is compared to its recoverable amount. For the years ended 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2022 the Group operated
as a single CGU.
The recoverable amount of the CGU is based on
‘value in use’ (‘VIU’) calculations, determined by discounting the future cash flows to be generated from continuing the use of the CGU.
As at 31 December 2022 an impairment analysis was
prepared as it was determined that impairment indicators existed for the CGU.
Cash flow projections were prepared based on
management’s best estimates covering a three-year
period. Cash flows beyond this three-year
period were extrapolated using a growth rate of 2.5 %
which did not exceed the long-term average growth rate for the business. The Group applied a pre-tax discount rate of 19.5 % to discount the forecast future cash flows
attributable to the CGU.
In forecasting cash flows over the three-year
period, management assumed a Bitcoin price and global hashrate based on historic data, completion of key construction sites within the Group, and
electricity costs remain within the current regulated levels in British Columbia, Canada and at forecasted external market pricing in unregulated
markets.
Based on the assessment performed, management
determined that the Group’s carrying value was not supported by its recoverable amount. Based on the associated VIU projections, the Group impaired its
goodwill of $617 ,000 to $. The impairment expense described above had been
recognized in the consolidated statements of profit or loss as impairment of assets.
Given the VIU did not support the carrying amount
of the CGU, management also estimated the fair value less cost of disposal ('FVLCOD') of the assets in the CGU. This was performed using the market
approach, based on observable market prices for similar assets. As a result, an impairment of $25,700 ,000 was recognized on the Group’s mining hardware. The analysis supported the carrying
value of the Group’s infrastructure assets (Land, Buildings, Plant and equipment). Refer note 14.
The Group separately assessed the assets held by
IE CA 3 Holdings Ltd. and IE CA 4 Holdings Ltd. (‘Non-Recourse SPVs’) for impairment. In performing this assessment, the Group determined that the
Non-Recourse SPVs were unlikely to generate future cash flows for the Group and therefore assessed the Non-Recourse SPVs as a separate CGU for
impairment testing. This separate impairment assessment resulted in impairment of $66,484 ,000 recorded in relation to the Non-Recourse SPVs.
Reconciliation
Impairment recorded during the year ended 30 June 2023 comprised of the following:
|
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
||||
|
US$'000
|
||||
|
Goodwill
|
|
|||
|
Mining hardware
|
|
|||
|
Mining hardware – Non-Recourse SPVs
|
|
|||
|
Mining hardware prepayments
|
|
|||
|
Mining hardware prepayments – Non-Recourse SPVs
|
|
|||
|
Development assets
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|||
The impairment expense described above has been recognized in the consolidated statements of profit or
loss as impairment of assets. For the years ended 30 June 2022 and 30 June 2021 the Group recorded $167 ,000 and $432 ,000 of impairment respectively in relation to right of use assets, buildings and older
generation mining hardware assets.
As at June 30, 2023, the Company has not observed any new factors that would require a new impairment
test for the property, plant and equipment.
F-31
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 17. Borrowings and lease liabilities
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
||||||||
|
Mining hardware finance
|
|
|
||||||
|
Capitalized borrowing costs - mining hardware finance
|
|
(
|
)
|
|||||
|
Mining hardware finance accrued interest
|
|
|
||||||
|
Lease liability
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Non-current liabilities
|
||||||||
|
Mining hardware finance
|
|
|
||||||
|
Capitalized borrowing costs – mining hardware finance
|
|
(
|
)
|
|||||
|
Lease liability
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
F-32
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 17. Borrowings and lease liabilities
(continued)
Mining hardware finance
Prior to 30 June 2022, three of the Group’s subsidiaries (namely, IE CA 2 Holdings
Ltd., IE CA 3 Holdings Ltd. and IE CA 4 Holdings Ltd) entered into separate limited recourse equipment finance and security agreements with third-party
financiers. During the year ended 30 June 2023, IE CA 2 Holdings Ltd. repaid the outstanding amounts under its respective facilities with the third-party
lender.
On 4 November 2022, IE CA 3 Holdings Ltd. and IE CA 4
Holdings Ltd received notices of defaults from the lender under their respective limited recourse facilities alleging the occurrence of certain defaults and
potential events of default and purporting to declare the loans under each of the Non-Recourse SPV facilities immediately due and payable. The Group
subsequently lost control of IE CA 3 Holdings Ltd. and IE CA 4 Holdings Ltd. on appointment of a receiver to these entities (refer to note 27 for further
details).
Lease liabilities
The Group’s lease
liabilities include a 30-year lease of a
site in Prince George, B.C., Canada, a 3-year
lease of a corporate office in Sydney, Australia and a 5-year
corporate office lease in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. A reconciliation
of lease liabilities is set out below, an undiscounted contractional maturity analysis of lease liabilities is included in Note 24.
|
Reconciliation
|
US$’000
|
|||
|
Balance as at 1 July 2021
|
|
|||
|
Additions
|
|
|||
|
Lease charges
|
(
|
)
|
||
|
Finance charges
|
|
|||
|
Exchange differences
|
(
|
)
|
||
|
Balance as at 30 June 2022
|
|
|||
|
Additions
|
|
|||
|
Lease charges
|
(
|
)
|
||
|
Finance charges
|
|
|||
|
Exchange differences
|
(
|
)
|
||
|
Balance as at 30 June 2023
|
|
|||
|
Current portion
|
|
|||
|
Non-current portion
|
|
|||
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 18. Provisions
| Consolidated | ||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
||||||||
|
Non-refundable sales tax
|
|
|
||||||
Non-Refundable Sales
Tax
The Canada Revenue
Agency (‘CRA’) is currently conducting an audit of input tax credits (‘ITCs’) claimed by several of the Group’s Canadian subsidiaries. The CRA
has issued an assessment in relation to one of the subsidiaries which, the Directors believe may be applied across the Group’s Canadian
subsidiaries. Under the proposed decision, the CRA has noted that ITCs claimed by the Group would be allowed. However, the Canadian
subsidiaries would also be required to remit an amount of 5 % on services exported to the Australian parent under an intercompany service agreement. The export of
services typically attract a 0 %
rate of GST in Canada. If GST were to apply to these services at a rate of 5 %, the Australian parent may not be permitted to recover this tax.
The Group has
submitted additional information to the CRA to further support the ITCs claimed and the 0% rate applied to the exported services and
submitted a formal notice of objection to the CRA in November 2022. The CRA has acknowledged receipt of the appeal application however has
not yet provided any further correspondence to the Group.
Recent amendments made to Canadian Tax legislation in June 2023 are being considered by the relevant
subsidiaries and the CRA. To date, the CRA has not issued any interpretation guidance on the new legislation or proposed any potential
changes to previous conclusions communicated to subsidiaries of the Group. Consequently, the affected subsidiaries continue to accrue a
provision in line with the aforementioned methodology.
Note 19. Trade and other
payables
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
|||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
||||||||
|
Trade payables
|
|
|
||||||
|
Other payables
|
|
|
||||||
|
Employment tax payables
|
|
|
||||||
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
F-34
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 20. Issued capital
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||||||||
|
Shares
|
Shares
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||||||||
|
Ordinary shares - fully paid and unrestricted
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Movements in ordinary share capital
|
Details
|
Date
|
Shares
|
US$’000
|
||||||
|
Balance
|
1 July 2021
|
|
|
||||||
|
Conversion of hybrid financial instruments
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Ordinary shares issued (IPO)
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Share-based payments, prepaid in advance
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
IPO capital raise costs, net of tax
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||
|
Balance
|
1 July 2022
|
|
|
||||||
| Shares issued under Committed Equity Facility |
|||||||||
| Unpaid shares
issued under Committed Equity Facility |
|||||||||
| Shares issued for services |
|||||||||
| Equity settled
share-based payments |
|||||||||
| Capital raise
costs |
( |
) | |||||||
| Balance | 30 June 2023 | ||||||||
Refer note 33 for
further information on B Class restricted shares issued.
Ordinary
shares
Ordinary shares entitle the holder to
participate in dividends and the proceeds on the winding up of the Company in proportion to the number of and amounts paid on the shares held. The
fully paid ordinary shares have no
par value and the Company does not have a limited amount of authorized capital.
Committed Equity Facility
On 23 September 2022 Iris Energy
entered into a share purchase agreement with B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (“B. Riley”) to establish a committed equity facility (“ELOC”), pursuant to which Iris Energy may, at its option, sell up
to US$100 million of ordinary
shares to B. Riley over a two-year
period. A resale registration statement relating to shares sold to B. Riley under the ELOC was declared effective by the SEC on 26 January 2023.
During the year 11,454,324 shares
were issued under the facility raising gross proceeds of $41,581,000 . An additional $1,802,000 was raised through the sale of 388,845 shares from trades which were executed in June 2023 and
subsequently issued and settled in July 2023.
Initial
Public offering
The Company listed 55,036,108 ordinary shares on Nasdaq as part of an
IPO on 17 November 2021. 8,269,231
ordinary shares were issued as part of this offering at a price of $28.00 . Total proceeds (net of underwriting fees) of $215,331 ,000 were raised by the Group as part of this offering.
Conversion
of hybrid financial instruments
On 16 November 2021, immediately prior to the
IPO on Nasdaq, all hybrid financial instruments (convertible notes and simple agreement for future equity ‘SAFE’) converted to equity in accordance
with the underlying deeds. 24,835,118
ordinary shares were issued to noteholders on conversion of these instruments resulting in a corresponding increase in issued capital of $695,383 ,000 (based on a conversion share price fair
value of $28.00 on 16 November 2021).
There are no outstanding convertible
instruments as at 30 June 2023 (30 June 2022: no ne).
Loan-funded
shares
As at 30 June 2023, there are 1,954,049 (30 June 2022: 1,954,049 ) restricted ordinary shares issued to
management under the Employee Share Plan as well as certain non-employee founders of Podtech Innovation Inc. The total number of ordinary shares
outstanding (including the loan funded shares) is 66,701,526
as at 30 June 2023 (30 June 2022: 54,982,916 ).
F-35
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 20. Issued
capital (continued)
Capital
risk management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital
is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to sustain future development of the business.
Capital is regarded as
total equity, as recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position, plus net debt. Net debt is calculated as total borrowings
less cash and cash equivalents.
In order to maintain or adjust the capital
structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares, issue new debt
or sell assets to reduce debt.
Note 21. Reserves
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Foreign currency translation reserve
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
|
Share-based payments reserve (note 31)
|
|
|
||||||
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||
Foreign currency translation reserve
The reserve is used to recognize exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial
statements of foreign operations to United States dollar.
Share-based payments reserve
The reserve is used to recognize the value of equity benefits provided to employees and Directors
as part of their remuneration, and other parties as part of their compensation for services.
Note 22. Dividends
There were no
Note 23. Earnings per share
|
Year ended
30 June 2023 |
Year ended
30 June 2022 |
Year ended
30 June 2021(restated*)
|
||||||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||
|
Loss after income tax
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||
|
Number
|
Number
|
Number
|
||||||||||
|
Weighted average number of shares used in calculating basic earnings
per share
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Weighted average number of shares used in calculating diluted
earnings per share
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Cents
|
Cents
|
Cents
|
||||||||||
|
Basic earnings per share
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||
|
Diluted earnings per share
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||
As
the Group has recorded a loss after tax for all years presented, any potential ordinary shares are
antidilutive.
F-36
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 24. Financial instruments
Financial risk management objectives
The Group has a simple capital structure and its principal financial assets are
cash and cash equivalents and other receivables (except for sales tax receivables). The Group is
subject to market risk by way of being exposed to daily volatility in the Bitcoin price and variations
in foreign exchange rates. The Group has limited exposure to credit risk. The Group primarily holds
cash and cash equivalents with regulated authorized deposit taking institutions which have strong
credit ratings. The Group may also be exposed to liquidity and capital risk, due to the nature of
operations and the requirements to incur capital expenditure.
Risk management is carried out by senior executives who identify, evaluate and
hedge financial risks.
Market risk
Foreign currency risk
The Group undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currency and is
exposed to foreign currency risk through foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognized
financial assets and financial liabilities denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s
functional currency. The risk is measured using sensitivity analysis and cash flow forecasting.
The Group’s exposure to foreign currency risk arises when a Group entity holds a financial
asset or liability in a currency other than the functional currency of that entity. At the end of
the reporting period, the Group’s exposure to foreign currency risk was as follows (denominated in
US Dollars):
|
Financial assets
|
Financial
liabilities
|
|||||||||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||||
|
US dollars
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Canadian dollars
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Sensitivity analysis
The following table illustrates sensitivities to the Group’s exposure to changes in
exchange rates. The table
indicates the impact on how profit and equity values reported at the end of the reporting period
would have been affected by changes in the relevant risk variables that management considers to
be reasonably possible. These sensitivities assume that the movement in a particular variable is
independent of other variables, each scenario assumes no change to other variables.
|
Strengthened
|
Weakened
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
Change
%
|
Effect on
profit before
tax
US$’000
|
Effect on
equity US$’000
|
Change
%
|
Effect on
profit before
tax
US$’000
|
Effect on
equity
US$’000
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
US dollar
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
|
Canadian dollar
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
|
Australian dollar
|
10
|
%
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||
Price risk
The Group is exposed to daily price risk on Bitcoin rewards it
generates through contributing computing power to mining pools. Bitcoin rewards are
typically liquidated on a daily basis and no Bitcoin is held
as at the reporting period end (30 June 2022: ).
Bitcoin currency prices are affected by various forces including global supply and
demand, interest rates, exchange rates, inflation or deflation and the global political
and economic conditions. The profitability of the Group is directly related to the
current and future market price of digital currencies. A decline in the market prices
for digital currencies could negatively impact the Group’s future operations. The Group
has not hedged the conversion of any of its sales of Bitcoin.
F-37
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 24. Financial
instruments (continued)
Interest rate risk
The Group is has limited exposure to interest rate risk, which is
the risk that a financial instrument’s value will fluctuate as a result of changes in the
market interest rates on variable interest-bearing financial instruments. The Group does
not, at this time, use derivatives to mitigate these exposures. The Group’s cash and cash
equivalents consist of balances available on demand which are held with regulated
financial institutions and do not expose the Group to significant interest rate risk.
Credit risk
The Group’s exposure to credit risk is primarily related to its
potential counterparty credit risk with exchanges, mining pools and regulated financial
institutions. It mitigates credit risk associated with mining pools and exchanges by
maintaining relationships with various alternative mining pools and transferring fiat
currency to its Australian bank account on a regular basis. The Group cash and cash
equivalents consists of balances held with regulated, listed financial institutions. The
Group regularly monitors industry developments, actively monitors concentration risks with
each financial institution and primarily holds balances on demand with A-1 rated
institutions (based on Standard & Poor’s ratings).
Liquidity risk
The Group is exposed to liquidity risk and is required to maintain
sufficient liquid assets (mainly cash and cash equivalents) and available borrowing
facilities to be able to pay contractual obligations as and when they become due and
payable. The Group manages liquidity risk by continuously monitoring forecast and actual
cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities. The
Group regularly updates cash projections for changes in business and fluctuations in the
Bitcoin price. Refer to the Going Concern section within note 2 for further information in
relation to how the Group intends to meet its short-term contractual obligations.
Remaining contractual maturities
The following table details the Group’s remaining contractual
maturity for its financial instruments and other liabilities. The table presents the
undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the
financial liabilities are required to be paid. The table includes both interest and
principal cash flows disclosed as remaining contractual maturities and therefore these
totals may differ from their carrying amount in the consolidated statement of financial
position.
|
Weighted
average
contractual
interest rate
|
1 year or less
|
Between 1
and 2 years
|
Between 2
and 5 years
|
Over 5 years
|
Remaining
contractual
maturities
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
%
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Non-derivatives
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Trade and other payables
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Lease liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Total non-derivatives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Weighted
average
contractual
interest rate
|
1 year
or less
|
Between 1
and 2 years
|
Between 2
and 5 years
|
Over 5
years
|
Remaining
contractual
maturities
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
30 June 2022
|
%
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Non-derivatives
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Trade and other payables
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Mining hardware finance |
% | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Lease liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Total non-derivatives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
F-38
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial
statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 25. Fair value measurement
Fair value hierarchy
Assets and
Liabilities that are measured in the consolidated statements of financial position
at fair value are categorized into a three-level hierarchy based on the priority
of the inputs to the valuation. The categorization within the hierarchy is based
on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement,
being:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for
identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement date
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within
Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or
indirectly
Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability
There were no
Note 26. Commitments
As at 30 June 2023, the Group had
commitments of $7,481 ,000 (30 June 2022: $346,623 ,000) which are payable within the year ended 30 June 2024. These commitments include committed capital expenditure on
infrastructure related to site development.
The committed amounts are payable as set out below:
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$’000
|
US$’000
|
|||||||
|
Amounts payable within 12 months
of balance date:
|
|
|
||||||
|
Amounts payable after 12 months of
balance date:
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
F-39
|
Iris
Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated
financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 27. Interests in subsidiaries
The consolidated financial statements incorporate
the assets, liabilities and results of the following subsidiaries in
accordance with the accounting policy described in note 2:
|
Beneficial
Ownership
interest
|
|||||||||
|
Name
|
Principal
place of business /
Country of incorporation |
30 June 2023
% |
30 June 2022
% |
||||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
%
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
%
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
| % | % | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
||||
*On 4 November 2022, IE CA 3 Holdings Ltd. and IE CA 4 Holdings
Ltd. (‘Non-Recourse SPVs’) received notices of defaults from the
lenders under their respective limited recourse facilities
alleging the occurrence of certain defaults and potential events
of default, and purporting to declare the loans under each of the
Non-Recourse SPV facilities immediately due and payable. The
lender filed a petition with the British Columbia Supreme Court,
primarily seeking the appointment of PwC as receiver over the
assets and undertakings of the Non-Recourse SPVs, which the court
accepted, subsequently appointing PwC as the receiver of the
Non-Recourse SPVs on 3 February 2023. The Group ceased control of
the Non-Recourse SPVs on 3 February 2023, being the date of appointment of
the receiver, and as such the entities have been deconsolidated
from this date recording a gain on disposal of subsidiaries of $3,258 ,000 .
F-40
|
Iris
Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated
financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 28. Reconciliation of loss after
income tax to net cash from/(used in) operating activities
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023 |
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
|
||||||||||
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
||||||||||
|
Loss after
income tax expense for the year
|
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
|
Adjustments
for:
|
||||||||||||
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Capital
raising costs
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Impairment of
assets
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Other income |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Gain on disposal
of subsidiaries |
( |
) | ||||||||||
|
Gain/(loss)
on disposal of property, plant and equipment
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
||||||||
|
Foreign
exchange loss/(gain)
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Loss on
embedded derivatives held at fair value through profit
or loss
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Accrued
interest
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Amortization
of capitalized borrowing costs
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Share-based
payment expense
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Change in
operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||||
|
Decrease/(increase)
in other receivables
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Increase in
deferred tax assets
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||
|
Increase/(decrease)
in trade and other payables
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Increase/(decrease)
in provision for income tax
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Increase in
deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Increase/(decrease)
in employee benefits
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Increase in
other provisions
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Decrease in
operating deposits
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Increase for
prepayments and deposits
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|
|||||||
|
Net cash from
operating activities
|
|
|
||||||||||
Note 29. Non-cash
investing and financing activities
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
Year ended
30 June 2021
|
||||||||||
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
US$'000
|
||||||||||
|
Convertible
notes issued in lieu of interest/referral fees
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Mining
hardware finance additional fee payable in cash or
equity
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Mining hardware
finance prepayments made directly by third party
financier
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||
|
Additions to
right of use assets
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Share issuance
proceeds under Committed Equity Facility
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
( |
) | |||||||
Note 30. Contingent Liabilities
In addition to PwC continuing in their capacity as receiver
in respect of the Non-Recourse SPVs, a hearing was held in June 2023 in The Supreme Court of British Columbia with respect to, among other things, claims brought
by the lender, NYDIG ABL LLC, seeking remedies regarding the limited recourse equipment financing facilities entered into by the Non-Recourse SPVs. A judgement on these proceedings was delivered on 10 August 2023 which declared, among other things, that the transactions pursuant to hashpower services provided by
the Non-Recourse SPVs to the Company to be void. On 21 August 2023, the
Company filed a notice to appeal the judgement.
F-41
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 31. Share-based
payments
The Group has entered into a number of
share-based compensation arrangements. Details of these
arrangements, which are considered as options for
accounting purposes, are described below:
Employee Share Plan
The Group’s Employee Share Plan is a
loan-funded share scheme. These loan-funded shares
generally vest subject to satisfying employment service
periods (and in some cases, non-market-based performance
milestones). The employment service periods are generally
met in three
equal tranches on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary
of the grant date. Under this scheme, the Company issues a
limited recourse loan (that has a maximum term of up to 9 years and 11 months ) to employees for the sole
purpose of acquiring shares in the Company. Upon disposal
of any loan-funded shares by employees, the aggregate
purchase price for the shares shall be applied by the
Company to pay down the outstanding loan payable.
The recourse on the loan is limited to the
lower of the initial amount of the loan granted to the
employee and the proceeds from the sale of the underlying
shares. Employees are entitled to exercise the voting and
dividend rights attached to the shares from the date of
allocation. If the employee leaves the Company within the
vesting period, the shares may be bought back by the
Company at the original issue price and the loan is
repaid. Loan-funded shares have been treated as options as
required under IFRS 2 Share-based Payments. Vesting of
instruments granted under the Employee Share Plan is
dependent on specific service thresholds being met by the
employee.
2021 Executive Director Liquidity and
Price Target Options
On 20 January 2021, the Group’s board
approved the grant of 1,000,000 3.868 5.005
Employee Option Plan
The Board approved an Employee Option Plan on
28 July 2021. The terms of the Employee Option Plan are
substantially similar to the Employee Share Plan, with the
main difference being that the incentives are issued in
the form of options and loans are not provided to
participants. If the employee leaves the Company within
the vesting period of the options granted, the Board
retains the absolute discretion to cancel any unvested
options held by the employee. Vesting of options granted
under the Employee Option Plan is dependent on specific
service thresholds being met by the employee.
Non-Executive Director Option Plan
The Board
approved a Non-Executive Director Option Plan (‘NED
Option Plan’) on 28 July 2021. The terms of the NED Option Plan are
substantially similar to the Employee Option Plan.
Vesting of instruments granted under the NED Option Plan
is dependent on specific service thresholds being met by
the Non-Executive Director. Where an option holder
ceases to be a Director of the Company within the
vesting period, the options granted to that Director
will vest on a pro-rata basis of the associated service
period. The Board retains the absolute discretion to
cancel any remaining unvested options held by the option
holder.
$75
On 18 August 2021, the Group’s
shareholders approved the grant of 2,400,000 75 75 12
years.
The $75 four
tranches following listing of the Company, if the
relevant ordinary share price is equal to or exceeds
the corresponding vesting threshold and the relevant
executive director has not voluntarily resigned as a
director of the Company. The initial vesting
thresholds are detailed below:
|
●
|
If the
VWAP of an ordinary share over the
immediately preceding
|
|
●
|
If the
VWAP of an ordinary share over the
immediately preceding
|
|
●
|
If the
VWAP of an ordinary share over the
immediately preceding
|
|
●
|
If the
VWAP of an ordinary share over the
immediately preceding
|
F-42
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the
consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note 31. Share-based payments
(continued)
The VWAP vesting thresholds may
also be triggered by a sale or takeover of the Company
based upon the price per ordinary share received in
such transaction.
The option holder is entitled to
receive in its capacity as a holder of the options, a
distribution paid by the Company per ordinary share as
if the vested options were exercised and ordinary
shares issued to the option holder at the relevant
time of such distribution.
The options are subject to
customary adjustments to reflect any reorganization of
the Company’s capital, as well as adjustments to
vesting thresholds including any future issuance of
ordinary shares by the Company.
2022 Long-Term
Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Units
On July 1, 2022, our Board approved a new
long term incentive plan under which
participating employees have been granted RSUs
in two equal tranches after and four years of continued service,
including a portion the vesting of which is also
subject to the achievement of specified
performance goals over this time period. RSUs
issued under the new long term incentive plan
are subject to other terms and conditions
contained in the plan.
Under
the terms of the plan, the Board maintains sole
discretion over the administration, eligibility
and vesting criteria of instruments issued under
the LTIP.
During the year ended 30 June
2023, the following grants were made under the 2022
LTIP:
|
●
|
-
-
|
|
●
|
|
|
●
|
Daniel
Roberts and William Roberts also
received a CEO grant of
|
|
●
|
|
F-43
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to the
consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June 2023
|
Note
31. Share-based payments (continued)
Reconciliation
of outstanding share options
Set out below are summaries of
options granted under all plans:
|
Number of
options
|
Weighted
average
exercise price
|
Number of
options
|
Weighted
average
exercise price
|
|||||||||||||
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
30 June 2022
|
|||||||||||||
|
Outstanding as at 1 July
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
US$
|
||||||||||
|
Granted during the year
|
|
|
|
US$
|
||||||||||||
|
Forfeited during the year
|
(
|
)
|
|
US$
|
(
|
)
|
|
US$
|
||||||||
|
Exercised during the year
|
US$ |
|||||||||||||||
|
Outstanding at the end of the
financial year
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
US$
|
||||||||||
|
Exercisable at the end of the
financial year
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
US$
|
||||||||||
As at 30 June 2023, the weighted
average remaining contractual life of options
outstanding is 7.57 years (30 June 2022: 8.69 years). As at 30 June 2023, the exercise
prices associated with the options outstanding
ranges from $1.53 to $75.00 (30 June 2022: $1.53 to $75.00 )
Reconciliation of
outstanding RSUs
Set out below are
summaries of RSUs granted under all plans:
|
|
Number of
RSUs
|
|||
|
|
30
June 2023
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Outstanding
as at 1
July
|
|
|||
|
Granted
during the year
|
|
|||
|
Forfeited
during the year
|
(
|
)
|
||
|
Exercised
during the year
|
(
|
)
|
||
|
|
||||
|
Outstanding
at the end of the financial year
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Exercisable
at the end of the financial year
|
|
|||
As at 30 June 2023, the weighted
average remaining contractual life of RSUs
outstanding is 4.55 years. All RSUs
have a
weighted average exercise price. There were
no
F-44
|
Iris Energy
Limited
|
|
|
Notes
to the consolidated financial
statements
|
|
|
30
June 2023
|
Note
31.
Share-based payments (continued)
Valuation
methodology
The fair value of instruments
issued under the Employee Share Plan, Employee Option
Plan and NED Option Plan have been measured using a
Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model. The fair value
of the Executive Director Liquidity and Price Target
Options, $75
Exercise Price Options, and Long-Term Incentive Plan
RSUs have been measured using a Monte-Carlo
simulation. Service and non-market performance
conditions attached to the arrangements were not taken
into account when measuring fair value.
The following table lists the inputs
used in measuring the fair value of arrangements granted
during the years ended 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2022:
|
Grant date
|
Dividend
yield
|
Expected
volatility
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
Expected
life
(weighted
average)
|
Grant date
share price
|
Exercise
price
(weighted
average)
|
Fair value
(weighted
average)
|
Number of
options/RSUs
granted
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
years
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NED Options Plan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 July 2021 | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
21 October 2021
|
% | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Employee
Option Plan
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
28
July 2021
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
20 October 2021
|
% | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
17 June 2022
|
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
$
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
14 September 2021
|
% | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Long Term Incentive Plan
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
1 July 2022
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Service RSUs
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
TSR RSUs (
|
% | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
TSR RSUs (
|
% | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Share Price
Target RSU
|
% | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
22 December 2022
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Service RSUs
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
11 January 2023
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Service RSUs
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
TSR RSUs
|
% | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 June 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Service RSUs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
The share-based payment expense
for the year was $14,356 ,000
(2022: $13,896 ,000,
2021: $805 ,000).
F-45
|
Iris Energy Limited
|
|
|
Notes to
the consolidated financial statements
|
|
|
30 June
2023
|
Note 32.
Related party transactions
Parent entity
Iris Energy Limited is the
ultimate parent entity.
Subsidiaries
Interests in subsidiaries are
set out in note 27.
Key management
personnel
Disclosures relating to key
management personnel are set out in note 33.
Transactions with
related parties
There were no
Receivable from and
payable to related parties
There were no
Loans to/from
related parties
There were no
Note
33. Key
management personnel disclosures
Details of Directors and
key management personnel
The
following persons were Directors of Iris Energy
Limited at any time during the year, up to the
date of this report:
|
Individual
|
Position
|
Date of
Commencement
|
Date
ceased to be KMP
|
|
Daniel Roberts
|
Executive Director and Co-CEO
|
|
-
|
|
William Roberts
|
Executive Director and Co-CEO
|
|
-
|
|
David Batholomew
|
Non-Executive
Director
|
|
-
|
|
Christopher
Guzowski
|
Non-Executive Director
|
|
-
|
|
Michael
Alfred
|
Non-Executive Director
|
|
-
|
|
Sunita
Parasuraman
|
Non-Executive
Director
|
|
-
|
The
following persons were considered to be KMP of
Iris Energy Limited at any time during the year:
|
Individual
|
Position
|
Date of
Commencement
|
Date
ceased to be KMP
|
|
Lindsay
Ward
|
President
|
|
|
|
David Shaw
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
|
-
|
|
Belinda
Nucifora
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
-
|
|
Cesilia Kim
|
Chief
Legal Officer
|
|
-
|
Significant
Transactions with key management personnel
On or around 18 August 2021, the
shareholders of the Company approved the issue
of one 1.00 fifteen
votes for each ordinary share in the Company
held by the holder. In addition, a B Class share
confers a right for the holder to nominate a
director to put forward for election to the
Board. Because of the increased voting power of
the B Class shares, the holders of the B Class
shares collectively could continue to control a
significant percentage of the combined voting
power of the Company's shares and therefore be
able to control all matters submitted to the
Company’s shareholders for approval until the
redemption of the B Class shares by the Company
on the earlier of (i) when the holder ceases to
be a director due to voluntary retirement; (ii)
a transfer of B Class shares in breach of the
Constitution; (iii) liquidation or winding up of
the Company; or (iv) at any time which is 12
years after the Company’s ordinary shares are
first listed on a recognized stock exchange.
Aside from these governance rights, the B Class
shares do not provide the holder with any
economic rights (e.g. the B Class shares do not
confer on its holder any right to receive
dividends). The B Class shares are not
transferable by the holder (except in limited
circumstances to affiliates of the holder).
F-46
|
Iris Energy
Limited
|
|
|
Notes
to the consolidated financial
statements
|
|
|
30
June 2023
|
Note 33.
Key management personnel
disclosures (continued)
Deed of access,
insurance and indemnity
The
Group has entered into deeds of access,
insurance and indemnity with each of our
directors and certain of our officers. These
deeds provide the directors and officers with
contractual rights to indemnification and
expense advancement and are governed by the
laws of Victoria, Australia.
Compensation
The
aggregate compensation made to Directors and
other members of key management personnel of
the Group is set out below:
|
Consolidated
|
||||||||
|
Year ended
30 June 2023
|
Year ended
30 June 2022
|
|||||||
|
US$
|
US$
|
|||||||
|
Short-term
employee benefits
|
|
|
||||||
|
Post-employment
benefits
|
|
|
||||||
|
Share-based
payments
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
The following table
summarizes the movement in options and
RSUs outstanding issued to Directors and
other members of KMP:
|
|
Number
of
options/RSUs
|
Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
Number
of
options/RSUs
|
Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
||||||||||||
|
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2023
|
30 June 2022
|
30 June 2022
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Outstanding
as at 1 July
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
||||||||||
|
Granted
during the year
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
||||||||||
|
Forfeited
during the year
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
|
||||||||
|
Exercised
during the year
|
(
|
)
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Outstanding
at the end of the financial year
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Exercisable
at the end of the financial year
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
||||||||||
Note 34.
Events after the reporting period
Changes to key
management personnel
On July 18,
2023, the Group announced the appointment
of Sunita Parasuraman to its board of
directors and as Chair of the Audit and
Risk Committee.
Limited
recourse equipment financing
In June 2023, a hearing was held
in in The Supreme Court of British
Columbia between NYDIG ABL LLC and the
Non-Recourse SPVs. A judgement on the
proceedings was delivered on 10 August
2023 which declared, among other things,
that the transactions pursuant to
hashpower services provided by the
Non-Recourse SPVs to the Company to be
void. On 21 August 2023, the Company
filed a notice to appeal the judgement.
Purchases
NVIDIA H100 GPUs to target generative
AI
On 29 August 2023, the
Group announced the initial purchase of 248
of NVIDIA’s latest-generation artificial
intelligence (“AI”) H100 GPUs for ~US$10
million.
No other matter
or circumstance has arisen since 30 June
2023 that has significantly affected, or
may significantly affect the Group's
operations, the results of those
operations, or the Group's state of
affairs in future financial years.
F-47
Exhibit 2.1
Description of Securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)
This exhibit contains a description of the rights of the holders of Ordinary shares. This description also summarizes relevant provisions of Australian law. The following summary does not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the applicable provisions of Australian law and the Company’s Constitution (the “Constitution”), a copy of which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.1 to the annual report on
Form 20-F, of which this Exhibit 2.1 is a part. We encourage you to read the Constitution and the applicable provisions of Australian law for additional information.
Description of Ordinary Shares
General
Iris Energy was incorporated under the laws of New South Wales, Australia on November 6, 2018, and is an Australian public company (ACN 629 842 799). Our registered address is located at Level 13, 664 Collins Street,
Docklands, Victoria, Australia 3008.
We do not have a limit on our authorized share capital and do not recognize the concept of par value under Australian law.
Subject to restrictions on the issue of securities in our Constitution and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”) and any other applicable law, we may at any time issue shares and grant options or
warrants on any terms, with the rights and restrictions and for the consideration that the board determine.
The rights and restrictions attaching to Ordinary shares are derived through a combination of our Constitution, the common law applicable to Australia, the Corporations Act and other applicable law. A general summary
of some of the rights and restrictions attaching to Ordinary shares are summarized below. Each ordinary shareholder is entitled to receive notice of and to be present, to vote and to speak at general meetings.
In accordance with our Constitution, the following summarizes the rights of holders of our Ordinary shares:
| • |
each holder of our Ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per Ordinary share on all matters to be voted on by shareholders generally;
|
| • |
the holders of our Ordinary shares shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend, speak and vote at our general meetings; and
|
| • |
the holders of our Ordinary shares shall be entitled to received such dividends as are recommended by our directors and declared by our shareholders.
|
In addition to our Ordinary shares, we have 2 B Class shares issued and outstanding, which are unregistered. B class shares have certain rights which impact the rights of holders of our Ordinary shares. These B Class
shares are held by Daniel Roberts and William Roberts, and together provide our Co-Chief executives with approximately 78.0% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock. The following summarizes the rights of holders of our B Class
share:
| • |
each holder of our B Class shares is entitled to 15 votes per Ordinary share holder by such holder of a B class share;
|
| • |
the holders of our B Class shares shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend, speak and vote at our general meetings; and
|
| • |
the holders of our B Class shares shall not be entitled to receive any dividends as are recommended by our directors and declared by our shareholders.
|
Our Ordinary shares will have the other rights and restrictions described in “⸺Key Provisions in our Constitution.”
Key Provisions in Our Constitution
Our Constitution is similar in nature to the bylaws of a U.S. corporation. It does not provide for or prescribe any specific objectives or purposes for the Company. Our Constitution is subject to the terms of the
Corporations Act. It may be amended or repealed and replaced by special resolution of shareholders, which is a resolution passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by shareholders (in person or by proxy) entitled to vote on the resolution.
Under Australian law, a company has the legal capacity and powers of an individual both within and outside Australia. The material provisions of our Constitution are summarized below. This summary is not intended to
be complete nor to constitute a definitive statement of the rights and liabilities of our shareholders, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of our Constitution, a copy of which is an exhibit to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Interested Directors
A director or that director’s alternate who has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered at a directors’ meeting must not be present while the matter is being considered at the meeting or
vote in respect of that matter according to our Constitution unless permitted to do so by the Corporations Act, in which case such director may (i) be counted in determining whether or not a quorum is present at any meeting of directors
considering that contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement; (ii) sign or countersign any document relating to that contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement; and (iii) vote in respect of, or in respect of any
matter arising out of, the contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement.
Unless a relevant exception applies, the Corporations Act requires our directors to provide disclosure of any material personal interest, and prohibits directors from voting on matters in which they have a material
personal interest and from being present at the meeting while the matter is being considered, unless directors who do not have a material personal interest in the relevant matter have passed a resolution that identifies the director, the nature
and extent of the director’s interest in the matter and its relation to our affairs and states that those directors are satisfied that the interest should not disqualify the director from voting or being present. In addition, the Corporations Act
may require shareholder approval of any provision of related party benefits to our directors, unless a relevant exception applies.
Borrowing Powers Exercisable by Directors
Pursuant to our Constitution, the management and control of our business affairs are vested in our board of directors. Our board has the power to raise or borrow money or obtain other financial accommodation for the
purposes of the Company, and may grant security for the repayment of that sum or sums or the payment, performance or fulfilment of any debts, liabilities, contracts or obligations incurred or undertaken by the Company in any manner and upon any
terms and conditions as our board deems appropriate.
Retirement of Directors
Under the Constitution, the minimum number of directors that may comprise the board is 3 and the maximum is fixed by the directors but may not be more than 10 (unless otherwise determined by the board of directors).
Directors are elected at annual general meetings of the Company. The directors may also appoint a Director to fill a casual vacancy on the Board or in addition to the existing directors, who will then hold office until the next annual general
meeting of the Company.
Rights and Restrictions on Classes of Shares
The rights attaching to our Ordinary shares are detailed in our Constitution. Our Constitution provides that, subject to the Corporations Act and our Constitution, our directors may issue shares with preferential,
deferred or special rights, privileges or conditions or with any restrictions, whether in relation to dividends, voting, return of share capital, or otherwise as our board of directors may determine. Subject to the Corporations Act and our
Constitution (see “⸺Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Constitution”), we may issue further shares on such terms and conditions as our board of directors resolve.
We may only issue preference shares if the rights attaching to the preference shares relating to repayment of capital, participation in surplus assets and profits, cumulative and non-cumulative dividends, voting and
priority of payment of capital and dividends in respect of other shares (including Ordinary shares) are set out in our constitution or otherwise approved by special resolution passed at a general meeting.
Dividend Rights
Under the Corporations Act, a company must not pay a dividend unless (a) the company’s assets exceed its liabilities immediately before the dividend is declared and the excess is sufficient for the payment of the
dividend; (b) the payment of the dividend is fair and reasonable to the company’s shareholders as a whole; and (c) the payment of the dividend does not materially prejudice the company’s ability to pay its creditors. Subject to this requirement,
our board may from time to time determine to pay and declare dividends to shareholders in accordance with the respective rights and restrictions attached to any share or class of share.
All dividends unclaimed for one year after the time for payment has passed may be invested or otherwise made use of by our board for our benefit until claimed or until dealt with under any law relating to unclaimed
moneys.
Voting Rights
Voting rights at a general meeting of the Company's shareholders will be determined by poll (rather than a show of hands).
On a poll, holders of Ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each Ordinary share held and a fraction of a vote for each partly paid share held by the shareholder and in respect. In the case of joint holders of
a share, the vote of the joint holder whose name appears first on the register of shareholders in respect of the joint holding shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders.
In accordance with the Corporations Act and the provisions of our Constitution, the circumstances in which holders of a class of shares, including holders of Ordinary shares, will be entitled to vote separately as a
single class are limited to:
| • |
voting for a variation of class rights that only affect a single share class;
|
| • |
voting for a compromise or arrangement proposed that would affect a certain class of holder, e.g. a plan of arrangement to transfer a class of share to a bidder; and
|
| • |
voting in response to a takeover bid for a specific class of shares.
|
Right to Share in Our Profits
Pursuant to our Constitution, our shareholders are entitled to participate in our profits only by payment of dividends in accordance with the respective rights and restrictions attached to any share or class of
share. Our board may from time to time determine to pay dividends to the shareholders. However, any such dividend may only be payable in accordance with the requirements set out in the Corporations Act described above.
Rights to Share in the Surplus in the Event of Winding Up
If the Company is wound up, then subject to any rights or restrictions attached to a class of shares, any surplus must be divided among the Company’s shareholders in the proportions which the amount paid and payable
(including amounts credited) on the shares of a shareholder is of the total amount paid and payable (including amounts credited) on the shares of all shareholders of the Company.
Redemption Provision for Shares
There are no redemption provisions in our Constitution in relation to Ordinary shares. Under our Constitution, shares may be issued and allotted, which are liable to be redeemed.
Variation or Cancellation of Share Rights
Subject to the Corporations Act and the terms of issue of a class of shares, the rights attaching to any class of shares may be varied or cancelled with the approval of the Board and: (a) the consent in writing of
the holders of three-quarters of the issued shares included in that class; or (b) by a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of those shares.
General Meetings of Shareholders
General meetings of shareholders may be called by our board of directors. Except as permitted under the Corporations Act, shareholders may not convene a meeting. The Corporations Act requires the directors to call
and arrange to hold a general meeting on the request of shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting. Notice of the proposed meeting of our shareholders is required at least 21 days prior to such meeting under
the Corporations Act.
Foreign Ownership Regulations
Our Constitution does not impose specific limitations on the rights of non-residents to own securities. However, acquisitions and proposed acquisitions of securities in Australian companies may be subject to review
and approval by the Australian Federal Treasurer under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth), or the FATA, which generally applies to acquisitions or proposed acquisitions:
| • |
by a foreign person (as defined in the FATA) or associated foreign persons that would result in such persons having an interest in 20% or more of the issued shares of, or control of 20% or more of the voting power in, an Australian
company; or
|
| • |
by a foreign government investor (as defined in the FATA) that would result in such a person having any direct interest (as defined in the FATA) in an Australian company.
|
In general terms, for proposals for investment in non-sensitive sectors, no such review or approval under the FATA is required if the foreign acquirer is a U.S. entity and the value of the Australian target is less
than A$1,250 million. A lower general A$289 million threshold applies to most other foreign investors.
The Australian Federal Treasurer may prevent a proposed acquisition in the above categories or impose conditions on such acquisition if the Australian Federal Treasurer is satisfied that the acquisition would be
contrary to the national interest. If a foreign person acquires shares or an interest in shares in an Australian company in contravention of the FATA, the Australian Federal Treasurer has the power to make a range of orders including an order of
the divestiture of such person’s shares or interest in shares in that Australian company.
Share transfers
Subject to the Constitution, shares may be transferred by a proper transfer effected in accordance with the Nasdaq listing rules, by a written instrument of transfer which complies with the Constitution or by any
other method permitted by the Corporations Act. The board may refuse to register a transfer of shares where permitted or required to do so under the Corporations Act or Nasdaq listing rules.
Issues of Shares and Change in Capital
Subject to our Constitution, the Corporations Act and any other applicable law, we may at any time issue shares and give any person a call or option over any shares on any terms, with preferential, deferred or other
special rights, privileges or conditions or with restrictions and for the consideration and other terms that the directors determine. We may only issue preference shares if the rights attaching to the preference shares relating to repayment of
capital, participation in surplus assets and profits, cumulative and non-cumulative dividends, voting and priority of payment of capital and dividends in respect of other shares (including Ordinary shares) are set out in our Constitution or
otherwise approved by special resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders.
Subject to the requirements of our Constitution, the Corporations Act and any other applicable law, including relevant shareholder approvals, we may consolidate or divide our share capital into a larger or smaller
number by resolution, reduce our share capital in any manner (provided that the reduction is fair and reasonable to our shareholders as a whole, does not materially prejudice our ability to pay creditors and obtains the necessary shareholder
approval) or buy back our Ordinary shares whether under an equal access buy-back or on a selective basis.
Proportional takeover bids
Our Constitution contains provisions for shareholder approval to be required in relation to any proportional takeover bid. These provisions will cease to apply unless renewed by special resolution of the shareholders
in general meeting by the third anniversary of the date of the Constitution’s adoption.
Amendment
The Constitution can only be amended by special resolution passed by at least three-quarters of the votes cast by shareholders present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote on the resolution at a general
meeting of the Company. The Company must give at least 21 days’ written notice of a general meeting of the Company
Anti-Takeover Effects
Takeovers of Australian public companies that have more than 50 shareholders are regulated by, amongst other things, the Corporations Act which prohibits the acquisition of a relevant interest in issued voting shares
in a public company if the acquisition will lead to that person’s or someone else’s voting power in the company increasing from 20% or below to more than 20% or increasing from a starting point that is above 20% and below 90%, which we refer to
as the Takeover Prohibition, subject to a range of exceptions. Generally, and without limitation, a person will have a “relevant interest” in securities if they:
| • |
are the holder of the securities (other than if the person holds those securities as a bare trustee);
|
| • |
have power to exercise, or control the exercise of, a right to vote attached to the securities; or
|
| • |
have the power to dispose of, or control the exercise of a power to dispose of, the securities (including any indirect or direct power or control).
|
If at a particular time a person has a relevant interest in issued securities and the person (whether before or after acquiring the relevant interest):
| • |
has entered or enters into an agreement with another person with respect to the securities;
|
| • |
has given or gives another person an enforceable right, or has been or is given an enforceable right by another person, in relation to the securities (whether the right is enforceable presently or in the future and whether or not on
the fulfillment of a condition); or
|
| • |
has granted or grants an option to, or has been or is granted an option by, another person with respect to the securities and the other person would have a relevant interest in the securities if the agreement were performed, the right
enforced or the option exercised,
|
the other person is also taken to have acquired a relevant interest in the securities that are the subject of an abovementioned act, at the time that such act occurs.
There are a number of exceptions to the Takeover Prohibition. In general terms, some of the more significant exceptions include:
| • |
when the acquisition results from the acceptance of an offer under a formal takeover bid;
|
| • |
when the acquisition is conducted on market by or on behalf of the bidder under a takeover bid and the acquisition occurs during the bid period;
|
| • |
when the disinterested shareholders of the target company approve the takeover by resolution passed at general meeting;
|
| • |
an acquisition by a person if, throughout the six months before the acquisition, that person, or any other person, has had voting power in the company of at least 19% and as a result of the acquisition, none of the relevant persons
would have voting power in the company more than 3% higher than they had six months before the acquisition;
|
| • |
as a result of a rights issue;
|
| • |
as a result of dividend reinvestment schemes or bonus share plan;
|
| • |
through operation of law;
|
| • |
an acquisition which arises through the acquisition of a relevant interest in another listed company which is listed on a prescribed financial market;
|
| • |
arising from an auction of forfeited shares conducted on-market; or
|
| • |
arising through a compromise, arrangement, liquidation or buy-back.
|
Certain breaches of the takeovers provisions of the Corporations Act may give rise to criminal offences. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Takeover Panel have a wide range of
powers relating to breaches of takeover provisions including the ability to make orders canceling contracts, freezing transfers of, and rights attached to, securities, and forcing a party to dispose of securities. There are certain defenses to
breaches of the takeovers provisions provided in the Corporations Act.
Differences in Corporate Law
Set forth below is a comparison of certain shareholder rights and corporate governance matters under Delaware law and Australian law:
|
Corporate law issue
|
|
|
Delaware law
|
|
|
Australian law
|
|
Special Meetings of Shareholders
|
|
|
Shareholders generally do not have the right to call meetings of shareholders unless that right is granted in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws.
However, if a corporation fails to hold its annual meeting within a period of 30 days after the date designated for the annual meeting, or if no date has been designated for a period of 13 months after its last annual meeting, the
Delaware Court of Chancery may order a meeting to be held upon the application of a shareholder.
|
|
|
The Corporations Act requires the directors to call a general meeting on the request of shareholders with at least 5% of the vote that may be cast at the general meeting. Shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at
the general meeting may also call and arrange to hold a general meeting. The shareholders calling the meeting must pay the expenses of calling and holding the meeting.
|
|
Interested Director Transactions
|
|
|
Interested director transactions are permissible and may not be legally voided if:
• either a majority of disinterested directors, or a majority in interest of holders of shares of the corporation’s capital shares entitled to vote upon the matter, approves the
transaction upon disclosure of all material facts;
or
• the transaction is determined to have been fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the board of directors, a committee thereof or the
shareholders.
|
|
|
A director or that director’s alternate who has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered at a directors’ meeting must not be present while the matter is being considered at the meeting or vote in respect of
that matter unless permitted to do so by the Corporations Act, in which case such director may:
• be counted in determining whether or not a quorum is present at any meeting of directors considering that contract or arrangement or proposed contract or
arrangement;
• sign or countersign any document relating to that contract or arrangement or proposed contract or
arrangement; and
• vote in respect of, or in respect of any matter arising out of, the contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement
|
|
Corporate law issue
|
|
|
Delaware law
|
|
|
Australian law
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unless a relevant exception applies, the Corporations Act requires our directors to provide disclosure of any material personal interest, and prohibits directors from voting on matters in which they have a material personal interest
and from being present at the meeting while the matter is being considered, unless directors who do not have a material personal interest in the relevant matter have passed a resolution that identifies the director, the nature and extent
of the director’s interest in the matter and its relation to our affairs and states that those directors are satisfied that the interest should not disqualify the director from voting or being present. In addition, the Corporations Act
may require shareholder approval of any provision of related party benefits to our directors, unless a relevant exception applies.
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Cumulative Voting
|
|
|
The certificate of incorporation of a Delaware corporation may provide that shareholders of any class or classes or of any series may vote cumulatively either at all elections or at elections under specified circumstances.
|
|
|
No cumulative voting concept for director elections. Voting rights can vary by share class, depending on the terms attaching to the shares under the constitution of the company. Ordinary shares carry one vote (by poll) per share.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Approval of Corporate Matters by Written Consent
|
|
|
Unless otherwise specified in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, shareholders may take action permitted to be taken at an annual or special meeting, without a meeting, notice, or a vote, if consents, in writing, setting
forth the action, are signed by shareholders with not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting. All consents must be dated and are only effective if the requisite signatures are
collected within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered.
|
|
|
Australian public companies cannot pass resolutions by circulating written resolutions.
|
|
Corporate law issue
|
|
|
Delaware law
|
|
|
Australian law
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Business Combinations
|
|
|
With certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all the assets of a Delaware corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
|
|
|
No requirement for shareholder approval under Australian law, unless the transaction involves a transfer or issue or new shares or other securities to existing shareholders (for example, a business combination through a scrip-for-scrip
merger) or a related party (generally, a director or its associates).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Limitations on Director’s Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
|
|
|
A Delaware corporation may include in its certificate of incorporation provisions limiting the personal liability of its directors to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for many types of breach of fiduciary duty.
However, these provisions may not limit liability for any breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, the authorization of unlawful dividends,
stock purchases, or redemptions, or any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. Moreover, these provisions would not be likely to bar claims arising under U.S. federal securities laws.
A Delaware corporation may indemnify a director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in defense of an action,
suit, or proceeding by reason of his or her position if (i) the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and (ii) with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, the director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
|
|
|
Australian law provides that a company or a related body corporate of the company may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent of any of the following liabilities incurred as an officer or director of
the company:
• a liability owed to the company or a related body corporate of
the company;
• a liability for a pecuniary penalty order made under section 1317G or a compensation order under section 961M, 1317H, 1317HA or 1317HB of the Corporations
Act;
• a liability that is owed to someone other than the company or a related body corporate of the company and did not arise out of conduct in
good faith; or
• legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred as an officer or director of the company if
the costs are incurred:
○ in defending or resisting proceedings in which the officer or director is found to have a liability for which they cannot be indemnified
as set out above;
○ in defending or resisting criminal proceedings in which the officer or director
is found guilty;
|
|
Corporate law issue
|
|
|
Delaware law
|
|
|
Australian law
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
○ in defending or resisting proceedings brought by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission or a liquidator for a
court order if the grounds for making the order are found by the court to have been established (except costs incurred in responding to actions taken by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission or a liquidator as part of an
investigation before commencing proceedings for a court order); or
○ in connection with proceedings for relief to the officer or a director under the Corporations Act, in which the court denies the relief.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Appraisal Rights
|
|
|
A shareholder of a Delaware corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights under which the shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair
value of the shares held by that shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration the shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction.
|
|
|
No equivalent concept under Australian law, subject to general minority oppression rights under which shareholders can apply to the Courts for an order in respect of Company actions that are unfairly prejudicial to a shareholder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Shareholder Suits
|
|
|
Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to the shareholders of a Delaware corporation for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste, and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In
such actions, the court has discretion to permit the winning party to recover attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action.
|
|
|
Shareholders have a number of statutory protections and rights available to them, regardless of the quantity of shares they hold. These include:
• The ability to bring legal proceedings in the company's name, including against the directors of the company, with the permission of the court.
• The ability to inspect the company's books, with the permission of the court.
|
|
Corporate law issue
|
|
|
Delaware law
|
|
|
Australian law
|
|
|
|
|
|
• The ability to apply to the court for orders in cases where the company has been run in a manner that is unfairly prejudicial to a shareholder, or contrary to the
interest of the shareholders as a whole.
• The ability to call a meeting of the company and propose resolutions
• The right to apply to the court for orders in cases where majority shareholders, or the directors, act in an oppressive or unfairly prejudicial manner towards a single shareholder
does not have a minimum shareholding requirement, and can result in a broad range of orders, including:
• The winding up of the company.
• Modification of the company's constitution
• Any other order the court determines to be appropriate.
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Inspection of Books and Records
|
|
|
All shareholders of a Delaware corporation have the right, upon written demand, to inspect or obtain copies of the corporation’s shares ledger and its other books and records for any purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest
as a shareholder.
|
|
|
Any shareholder of the Company has the right to inspect or obtain copies of our share register on the payment of a prescribed fee.
Books containing the minutes of general meetings will be kept at our registered office and will be open to inspection of shareholders at all times when the office is required to be open to the public. Other corporate records, including
minutes of directors’ meetings, financial records and other documents, are not open for inspection by shareholders (who are not directors). Where a shareholder is acting in good faith and an inspection is deemed to be made for a proper
purpose, a shareholder may apply to the court to make an order for inspection of our books.
All public companies are required to prepare annual financial reports and directors' reports for each financial year, and to file these reports with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
|
|
Corporate law issue
|
|
|
Delaware law
|
|
|
Australian law
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Amendments to Charter
|
|
|
Amendments to the certificate of incorporation of a Delaware corporation require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon or such greater vote as is provided for in the
certificate of incorporation. A provision in the certificate of incorporation requiring the vote of a greater number or proportion of the directors or of the holders of any class of shares than is required by Delaware corporate law may
not be amended, altered or repealed except by such greater vote.
|
|
|
Amending or replacing the company's constitution, requires a special resolution (75%) of the shareholders.
|
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Ordinary shares is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 150 Royal Street, Canton, MA 02021.
Exhibit 8.1
|
Name
|
State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation
Or Organization
|
|
|
Iris Energy Custodian Pty Ltd
|
New South Wales, Australia
|
|
|
Iris Energy Holdings Pty Ltd
|
New South Wales, Australia
|
|
|
SA 1 Holdings Pty Ltd
|
Victoria, Australia
|
|
|
SA 2 Holdings Pty Ltd
|
Victoria, Australia
|
|
|
TAS 1 Holdings Pty Ltd
|
Victoria, Australia
|
|
|
IE CA 1 Holdings Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE CA 2 Holdings Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE CA 5 Holdings Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE CA Development Holdings Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE CA Development Holdings 2 Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE CA Development Holdings 3 Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE CA Development Holdings 4 Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE CA Development Holdings 5 Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE CA Development Holdings 7 Ltd.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
PodTech Data Centers Inc.
|
British Columbia, Canada
|
|
|
IE US Development Holdings 1 Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US Holdings Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US 1, Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US Development Holdings 3 Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US Development Holdings 4 Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US Operations Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US Hardware 1 Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US Hardware 2 Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US Hardware 3 Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
|
|
IE US Hardware 4 Inc.
|
Delaware, United States
|
Exhibit 12.1
CERTIFICATION BY THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Daniel Roberts, certify that:
| 1. |
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Iris Energy Limited (the “Company”);
|
| 2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
|
| 3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
|
| 4. |
The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
|
| (a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
|
| (b) |
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
|
| (c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end
of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
|
| (d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
|
| 5. |
The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the
company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
|
| (a) |
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information; and
|
| (b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
|
|
Date:
|
September 13, 2023
|
|
|
/s/ Daniel Roberts
|
||
|
Signature
|
||
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
||
|
Title
|
||
Exhibit 12.2
CERTIFICATION BY THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, William Roberts, certify that:
| 1. |
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Iris Energy Limited (the “Company”);
|
| 2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
|
| 3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
|
| 4. |
The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
|
| (a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
|
| (b) |
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
|
| (c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the
end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
|
| (d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
|
| 5. |
The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the
company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
|
| (a) |
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
|
| (b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
|
|
Date:
|
September 13, 2023
|
|
|
/s/ William Roberts
|
||
|
Signature
|
||
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
||
|
Title
|
||
Exhibit 12.3
CERTIFICATION BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Belinda Nucifora, certify that:
| 1. |
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Iris Energy Limited (the “Company”);
|
| 2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
|
| 3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
|
| 4. |
The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
|
| (a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
|
| (b) |
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
|
| (c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end
of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
|
| (d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
|
| 5. |
The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the
company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
|
| (a) |
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information; and
|
| (b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
|
|
Date:
|
September 13, 2023
|
|
|
/s/ Belinda Nucifora
|
||
|
Signature
|
||
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
||
|
Title
|
||
Exhibit 13.1
CERTIFICATION BY THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Iris Energy Limited (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 (the
“Report”), I, Daniel Roberts, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:
1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
|
Date: September 13, 2023
|
||
|
/s/ Daniel Roberts
|
||
|
Name: Daniel Roberts
|
||
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
||
Exhibit 13.2
CERTIFICATION BY THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Iris Energy Limited (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 (the
“Report”), I, William Roberts, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:
1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
|
Date: September 13, 2023
|
||
|
/s/ William Roberts
|
||
|
Name: William Roberts
|
||
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
||
Exhibit 13.3
CERTIFICATION BY THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Iris Energy Limited (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 (the
“Report”), I, Belinda Nucifora, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:
1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
|
Date: September 13, 2023
|
||
|
/s/ Belinda Nucifora
|
||
|
Name: Belinda Nucifora
|
||
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
||
Exhibit 15.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Iris Energy Limited
Sydney, NSW, Australia
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference into the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos.333-273071, 333-269201, 333-265949 and 333-261320) of Iris Energy Limited of our report dated September 13, 2022,
relating to the consolidated financial statements of Iris Energy Limited as of June 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020 and for the years then ended, which report appears in this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2023, of Iris Energy
Limited.
/s/ArmaninoLLP
Dallas, Texas
September 13, 2023
Exhibit 15.2
 |
|
|
Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP
Suite 2000
National Bank Tower
600 De La Gauchetière Street West
Montréal, Quebec
H3B 4L8
T 514-878-2691
|
Consent of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference into the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-273071, 333-269201, 333-265949 and 333-261320)
of Iris Energy Limited of our report dated September 13, 2023, on the consolidated financial statements of Iris Energy Limited appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2023, of Iris Energy Limited.
Yours very truly,
/s/ Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
September 13, 2023
|
Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd
|
rcgt.com
|
Exhibit 16.1
|
Armanino LLP
15950 N. Dallas Parkway
Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75248-6685
972 661 1843 main
armanino.com
|
 |
September 13, 2023
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Commissioners:
We have read the statements made by Iris Energy Limited (copy attached), which we understand
will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Item 16F of Form 20-F of Iris Energy Limited, on September 13, 2023. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ArmaninoLLP
Dallas, Texas