UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13A-16 OR 15D-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of October 2023

 

Commission File Number: 001-41072

 

Iris Energy Limited

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Level 12, 44 Market Street

Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia

+61 2 7906 8301

(Address of principal executive office)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

Iris Energy increases mining capacity by 25%, expanding fleet to 7.0 EH/s. Acquisition of latest-generation Bitmain S21 miners

 

On October 6, 2023, Iris Energy Limited (together with its subsidiaries, “Iris Energy” or “the Company”) announced it is increasing its self-mining capacity by 25% from 5.6 EH/s to 7.0 EH/s.

 

Iris Energy has partnered with Bitmain Technologies Delaware Limited (“Bitmain”) to acquire approximately 7,000 latest-generation Bitmain S21 miners for $19.6 million ($14/TH)¹ of which $2.9 million is deferred until one year after shipment. Shipping is scheduled for early 2024, increasing the Company’s self-mining capacity from 5.6 EH/s to 7.0 EH/s – an increase of 25%.

 

$16.7 million ($11.9/TH) of the purchase price will be paid prior to shipment. The remaining 15% of the purchase price (~$2.9 million or $2.1/TH) is deferred until one year after shipment.

 

The purchase is expected to be funded from existing capital sources, including cash in bank (~$64 million, no debt)², operating cash flow and other recently disclosed funding programs (as applicable).

 

The Company is now targeting expansion in potential operating capacity of up to 9.4 EH/s (previously 9.1 EH/s)³ and continues to monitor the market for additional hardware acquisition opportunities.

 

A copy of the Company’s press release providing the update is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Report on Form 6-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or Iris Energy’s future financial or operating performance. For example, forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the Company’s business strategy, expected operational and financial results, and expected increase in power capacity and hashrate. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “may,” “can,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “project,” “strive,” “budget,” “forecast,” “expect,” “intend,” “target”, “will,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “scheduled” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology, but the absence of these words does not mean that statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements or information that refer to expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, performance or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking.

² Reflects USD equivalent, unaudited preliminary cash, cash equivalents and term deposits as of September 30, 2023.

³ Assumes future purchase and installation of Bitmain S19 XP miners (beyond the announced 1.4 EH/s of Bitmain S21 miners). Additional miners have not yet been purchased and the Company will continue to monitor the market for funding and purchase opportunities. Hashrate figures may change depending on miner procurement selection. There can be no assurance that Iris Energy will be able to procure any additional miners at all, or on terms that are favorable to Iris Energy.

These forward looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause Iris Energy’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements, including, but not limited to: Bitcoin price and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; Iris Energy’s ability to obtain additional capital on commercially reasonable terms and in a timely manner to meet our capital needs and facilitate its expansion plans; the terms of any future financing or any refinancing, restructuring or modification to the terms of any future financing, which could require Iris Energy to comply with onerous covenants or restrictions, and its ability to service its debt obligations; Iris Energy’s ability to successfully execute on its growth strategies and operating plans, including its ability to continue to develop its existing data center sites and to increase its diversification into the market for potential HPC solutions; Iris Energy’s limited experience with respect to new markets it has entered or may seek to enter, including the market for HPC solutions; expectations with respect to the ongoing profitability, viability, operability, security, popularity and public perceptions of the Bitcoin network; expectations with respect to the profitability, viability, operability, security, popularity and public perceptions of any potential HPC solutions that Iris Energy may offer in the future; Iris Energy’s ability to secure customers on commercially reasonable terms or at all, particularly as it relates to its potential expansion into HPC solutions; Iris Energy’s ability to manage counterparty risk (including credit risk) associated with potential customers and other counterparties; Iris Energy’s ability to secure renewable energy and renewable energy certificates, power capacity, facilities and sites on commercially reasonable terms or at all; the risk that counterparties may terminate, default on or underperform their contractual obligations; Bitcoin network hashrate fluctuations; delays associated with, or failure to obtain or complete, permitting approvals, grid connections and other development activities customary for greenfield or brownfield infrastructure projects; our reliance on third party mining pools, exchanges, banks, insurance providers and our ability to maintain relationships with such parties; expectations regarding availability and pricing of electricity; Iris Energy’s 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; the availability, reliability and 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 Iris Energy; any variance between the actual operating performance of Iris Energy’s hardware achieved compared to the nameplate performance including hashrate; Iris Energy’s ability to curtail its electricity consumption and/or monetize electricity depending on market conditions, including changes in Bitcoin mining economics and prevailing electricity prices; actions undertaken by electricity network and market operators, regulators, governments or communities in the regions in which Iris Energy operates; the availability, suitability, reliability and cost of internet connections at Iris Energy’s facilities; Iris Energy’s ability to secure additional hardware, including hardware for Bitcoin mining and potential HPC solutions it 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; 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); delays, increases in costs or reductions in the supply of equipment used in Iris Energy’s operations; Iris Energy’s ability to operate in an evolving regulatory environment; Iris Energy’s ability to successfully operate and maintain its property and infrastructure; reliability and performance of Iris Energy’s infrastructure compared to expectations; malicious attacks on Iris Energy’s property, infrastructure or IT systems; Iris Energy’s ability to maintain in good standing the operating and other permits and licenses required for its operations and business; Iris Energy ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce its intellectual property rights and other confidential information; whether the secular trends Iris Energy expects to drive growth in its business materialize to the degree it expects them to, or at all; the occurrence of any environmental, health and safety incidents at Iris Energy’s sites; any material costs relating to environmental, health and safety requirements or liabilities; damage to our property and infrastructure and the risk that any insurance Iris Energy maintains may not fully cover all potential exposures; ongoing securities litigation and proceedings relating to the default by two of Iris Energy’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; any laws, regulations and ethical standards that may relate to Iris Energy’s 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 potential HPC solutions), including regulations related to data privacy, cybersecurity and the storage, use or processing of information; any intellectual property infringement and product liability claims; our ability to attract, motivate and retain senior management and qualified employees; 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; climate change and natural and man-made disasters that may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations; the ongoing effects of COVID-19 or any other outbreak of an infectious disease and any governmental or industry measures taken in response; our ability to remain competitive in dynamic and rapidly evolving industries; damage to our brand and reputation; and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Iris Energy’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on September 13, 2023 as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of Iris Energy’s website at https://investors.irisenergy.co.

These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this Report on Form 6-K. Any forward-looking statement that Iris Energy makes in this Report on Form 6-K speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, Iris Energy disclaims any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

This Report on Form 6-K (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 6-K) shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the registration statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-261320, 333-265949, 333-269201 and 333-273071) and the registration statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-267568 and 333-274500) of Iris Energy Limited and to be a part thereof from the date on which this report is filed to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.

 

The information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 6-K shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any of the Company’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Exhibit 99.1

•

Acquisition of 1.4 EH/s of latest-generation Bitmain S21 miners

•

Self-mining capacity increasing by 25% to 7.0 EH/s

•

Leading 17.5 J/TH efficiency to improve resilience post-halving

•

$19.6 million purchase price ($14/TH)1 – $2.9 million deferred until one year after shipment

•

Expected to be installed at the Company’s site in Childress, Texas

•

Near-term expansion increased to 9.4 EH/s2

o

fleet resilience post-halving;

o

capital efficiency of data centers (increased revenue per data center); and

o

upside to Bitcoin (higher hashrate per data center than previously anticipated).

¹ Purchase price excludes shipping and taxes and is net of Bitmain bonuses and coupon programs.

•	100% renewables: Iris Energy targets sites with low-cost, under-utilized renewable energy, and supports local communities

•	Long-term security over infrastructure, land and power supply: Iris Energy builds, owns and operates its electrical infrastructure and proprietary data centers, providing long-term security and operational control over its assets

•	Seasoned management team: Iris Energy’s team has an impressive track record of success across energy, infrastructure, renewables, finance, digital assets and data centers with cumulative experience in delivering >$25bn in energy and infrastructure projects globally