• | AI: Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | Hash: To compute a function that takes an input, and then outputs an alphanumeric string known as the “hash value”. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | Mining: The process by which new Bitcoin blocks are created, and thus new transactions are added to the blockchain in the Bitcoin network. |
• | 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 |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | Protocol: The software that governs how a blockchain operates. |
• | REC: Renewable Energy Certificate. |
• | SEC: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. |
• | not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of SOX, the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, which would otherwise be applicable beginning with the second annual report following the effectiveness of this registration statement; |
• | reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements, including in this prospectus; 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. |
• | the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; |
• | the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and |
• | the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specific information, or current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events. |
• | 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; |
• | 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 share option plans. |
• | The market price of our Ordinary shares may be highly volatile. |
• | Future developments regarding the treatment of digital assets for U.S. federal income and foreign tax purposes could adversely impact our business. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | Future changes to tax laws could materially adversely affect our company and reduce net returns to our shareholders. |
• | 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 have an evolving business model and strategy. |
• | 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 business, operating plans and expansion plans may be delayed or change in light of evolving market conditions and several other factors. |
• | 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. |
• | 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 a number of other factors. |
• | Our business is highly dependent on a small number of digital asset mining equipment suppliers. Failure of our suppliers to perform under the relevant supply contracts, or of our ability to fulfill our obligations thereunder, could materially impact our operating results and financial condition. |
• | Any electricity outage, limitation of electricity supply or increase in electricity costs may result in material impacts to our operations and financial performance. |
• | Serial defects in our ASICs, GPUs and other equipment may result in failure or underperformance relative to expectations and materially impact our operations and financial performance. |
• | Any environmental, health and safety incidents including due to climate change, severe weather conditions and man-made disasters, may result in material impacts to our operations and financial performance. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | Bitcoin is a form of technology which may become redundant or obsolete in the future. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | Our business and financial condition may be materially adversely affected by changes to and/or increased regulation of energy sources. |
• | We currently report our financial results under IFRS, which differs from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or 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 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. |
• | 8,906,839 Ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding under our share issuance plans as of January 31, 2024, at a weighted-average exercise price of $41.93 per share; and |
• | 6,656,330 Ordinary shares issuable upon vesting of restricted share units outstanding under our Long-Term Incentive Plans as of January 31, 2024. |
• | Bitcoin price and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; |
• | 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; |
• | 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; |
• | 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 our ability to diversify into the market for HPC solutions we may offer; |
• | our limited experience with respect to new markets we have 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 HPC solutions that we may offer; |
• | our ability to secure and retain customers on commercially reasonable terms or at all, particularly as it relates to our strategy to expand into HPC solutions; |
• | our ability to manage counterparty risk (including credit risk) associated with any current or future customers and other counterparties; |
• | our ability to secure renewable energy, renewable energy certificates, power capacity, facilities and sites on commercially reasonable terms or at all; |
• | the risk that any current or future customers or counterparties may terminate, default on or underperform their contractual obligations; |
• | Bitcoin global 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 power and utilities providers, third party mining pools, exchanges, banks, insurance providers and our ability to maintain relationships with such parties; |
• | expectations regarding availability and pricing of electricity; |
• | 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; |
• | 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; |
• | any variance between the actual operating performance of our hardware achieved compared to the nameplate performance including hashrate; |
• | 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; |
• | actions undertaken by electricity network and market operators, regulators, governments or communities in the regions in which we operate; |
• | the availability, suitability, reliability and cost of internet connections at our facilities; |
• | 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; |
• | 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); |
• | delays, increases in costs or reductions in the supply of equipment used in our operations; |
• | our ability to operate in an evolving regulatory environment; |
• | our ability to successfully operate and maintain our property and infrastructure; |
• | reliability and performance of our infrastructure compared to expectations; |
• | malicious attacks on our property, infrastructure or IT systems; |
• | our ability to maintain in good standing the operating and other permits and licenses required for our operations and business; |
• | our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights and confidential information; |
• | any intellectual property infringement and product liability claims; |
• | whether the secular trends we expect to drive growth in our business materialize to the degree we expect them to, or at all; |
• | 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; |
• | damage to our property and infrastructure and the risk that any insurance we maintain may not fully cover all potential exposures; |
• | 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; |
• | our failure to comply with any laws including the anti-corruption laws of the United States and various international jurisdictions; |
• | any failure of our compliance and risk management methods; |
• | 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; |
• | 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, severe weather conditions 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; |
• | expectations relating to Environmental, Social and Governance issues or reporting; |
• | the costs of being a public company; and |
• | other risk factors disclosed under “Item 3.D.—Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F, incorporated herein by reference. |
• | effect service of process within the United States upon our non-U.S. resident directors or on us; |
• | enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against our non-U.S. resident directors or us in U.S. courts in any action, including actions under the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; |
• | enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against our non-U.S. resident directors or us in courts of jurisdictions outside the United States in any action, including actions under the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; or |
• | bring an original action in an Australian court to enforce liabilities against our non-U.S. resident directors or us based solely upon U.S. securities laws. |
Selling Holder | | | Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to the Offering | | | % of Total Ownership Prior to the Offering | | | Maximum Number of Ordinary Shares to be Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus | | | Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offering | | | % of Total Ownership After the Offering |
B&L Fry Holdings Ltd.(1) | | | 490,196 | | | * | | | 453,431 | | | 36,765 | | | * |
HSM Capital Pty Ltd (ACN 636 067 331) as trustee for Bjorca Trust(2) | | | 286,988 | | | * | | | 286,988 | | | — | | | — |
Jarrett Chasse(3) | | | 44,288 | | | * | | | 39,902 | | | 4,386 | | | * |
Jason Date(4) | | | 20,206 | | | * | | | 17,022 | | | 3,184 | | | * |
Kent Draper(5) | | | 369,152 | | | * | | | 237,968 | | | 131,184 | | | * |
Greg Duerksen(6) | | | 43,138 | | | * | | | 39,902 | | | 3,236 | | | |
EAG Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 636 630 272) as trustee for the EAG Holdings Family Trust(7) | | | 242,425 | | | * | | | 242,425 | | | — | | | — |
Brian Fehr(8) | | | 920,143 | | | * | | | 490,196 | | | 429,947 | | | * |
Peter Fry(9) | | | 43,138 | | | * | | | 39,902 | | | 3,236 | | | * |
Elvoca Consulting Pty Ltd as trustee for the GL Roberts Superannuation Fund(10) | | | 108,573 | | | * | | | 108,573 | | | — | | | — |
Selling Holder | | | Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to the Offering | | | % of Total Ownership Prior to the Offering | | | Maximum Number of Ordinary Shares to be Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus | | | Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offering | | | % of Total Ownership After the Offering |
Aaron Hawkins(11) | | | 12,766 | | | * | | | 12,766 | | | — | | | — |
Gregoire Mauve as trustee for the MAUVE Trust(12) | | | 95,030 | | | * | | | 72,410 | | | 22,620 | | | * |
Janine Maree Roberts(13) | | | 114,573 | | | * | | | 6,000 | | | — | | | — |
Gregory Leslie Roberts(14) | | | 109,073 | | | * | | | 500 | | | — | | | — |
Maxim Yushchenko(15) | | | 21,569 | | | * | | | 21,137 | | | 432 | | | * |
Total | | | 2,613,203 | | | * | | | 2,069,122 | | | 634,990 | | | * |
* | Represent less than 1% of the outstanding Ordinary shares |
(1) | Represents 490,196 Ordinary shares held by B&L Fry Holdings Ltd., comprised of (i) 36,765 Ordinary shares purchased directly from the Company prior to the IPO and (ii) 453,431 Ordinary shares that were issued on April 4, 2020 subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Brian Fry. All of the 453,431 Ordinary shares held pursuant to clause (ii) above have vested. B&L Fry Holdings Ltd. is controlled by Brian David Fry and Lora Fry, and they exercise shared voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares beneficially owned by that entity. The registered address of B&L Fry Holdings Ltd. is 1910 Second Avenue, PO Box 377, Rossland, BC, Canada, V0G 1Y0. |
(2) | Represents 286,988 Ordinary shares held by HSM Capital Pty Ltd (ACN 636 067 331) as trustee for Bjorca Trust, comprised of (i) 196,079 Ordinary shares that were issued on April 4, 2020 pursuant to the Original Employee Share Plan (as defined below) subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Beomshik Shin, and (ii) 90,909 Ordinary shares that were issued on November 11, 2020 pursuant to the Revised Employee Share Plan (as defined below) all of which have fully vested, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Beomshik Shin. The vesting conditions for the 196,079 Ordinary shares issued under the Original Employee Share Plan are partially met with 130,720 vested and the remaining 65,359 to vest on October 1, 2024. All of the 90,909 Ordinary shares issued under the Revised Employee Share Plan have fully vested. HSM Capital Pty Ltd (ACN 636 067 331) as trustee for Bjorca Trust is the Selling Holder and is controlled by Beomshik Shin and Rachel Kim, and they exercise shared voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares beneficially owned by that entity. The registered address of HSM Capital Pty Ltd (ACN 636 067 331) as trustee for Bjorca Trust is Suite 503, Level 5, 276 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000. |
(3) | Represents 44,288 Ordinary shares held by Jarrett Chasse, comprised of (i) 4,386 Ordinary shares, of which 3,236 Ordinary shares were purchased directly from the Company prior to the IPO and 1,150 Ordinary shares were purchased on the open market, and (ii) 39,902 Ordinary shares that were issued on April 4, 2020 pursuant to the Original Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Jarrett Chasse. The vesting conditions for the Ordinary shares issued under the Original Employee Share Plan are partially met, and as of January 1, 2024, 33,251 of such Ordinary shares had vested. The remaining 6,651 of such Ordinary shares will vest on January 1, 2025 if Mr Chasse remains employed until that date. Mr. Chasse exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares. |
(4) | Represents 20,206 Ordinary shares held by Jason Date, comprised of (i) 3184 Ordinary shares, of which 1684 Ordinary shares were purchased from another shareholder prior to the IPO and 1500 Ordinary shares were purchased on the open market in November 2023, and (ii) 17,022 Ordinary shares that were issued on May 10, 2021 pursuant to the Revised Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Jason Date. The vesting conditions for the 17,022 Ordinary shares issued under the Revised Employee Share Plan are dependent on the length of employment, with the first 33.33% vesting on April 7, 2024, then next 33.34% vesting on April 7, 2025 and the remaining 33.33% vesting on April 7, 2026, provided Mr. Date remains employed until that date. As of January 1, 2024, none of such Ordinary shares had vested. Mr. Date exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares. |
(5) | Represents 369,152 Ordinary shares held by Kent Draper, comprised of (i) 131,184 Ordinary shares, of which 131,184 Ordinary shares were purchased either directly from the Company or from another shareholder prior to the IPO, (ii)147,059 Ordinary shares that were issued on April 4, 2020 pursuant to the Original Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Kent Draper, and (iii) 90,909 Ordinary shares that were issued on November 11, 2020 pursuant to the Revised Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Kent Draper. The vesting conditions for the 147,059 Ordinary shares issued under the Original Employee Share Plan are partially met with 66.67% vested and the remainder to vest on January 1, 2025, and all the 90,909 Ordinary shares issued under the Revised Employee Share Plan are fully vested. As of January 1, 2024, 188,948 Ordinary shares had vested. Mr. Draper exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares. |
(6) | Represents 43,138 Ordinary shares held by Greg Duerksen, comprised of (i) 3,236 Ordinary shares, and (ii) 39,902 Ordinary shares that were issued on April 4, 2020 pursuant to the Original Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Greg Duerksen. The vesting conditions for the 39,902 Ordinary shares issued under the Original Employee Share Plan are partially met, and as of January 1, 2024, 33,251 of such Ordinary shares had vested. The remaining 6,651 of such Ordinary shares will vest on January 1, 2025 provided Mr Duerksen remains employed until that date. Mr. Duerksen exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares. |
(7) | Represents 242,425 Ordinary shares held by EAG Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 636 630 272) as trustee for the EAG Holdings Family Trust, comprised of (i) 151,516 Ordinary shares that were issued on November 11, 2020 and (ii) 90,909 Ordinary shares that were issued on November 11, 2020, each issued pursuant to the Revised Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to two Loan Agreements between the Company and Glenn Harrison. The vesting conditions for the 242,425 Ordinary shares issued under the Revised Employee Share Plan are fully met in relation to the 90,909 Ordinary shares issued and partially met |
(8) | Represents 920,143 Ordinary shares held by Brian Fehr or an entity in which Mr. Fehr has a beneficial interest, comprised of (i) 429,947 Ordinary shares issued directly by the Company prior to the IPO and (ii) 490,196 Ordinary shares that were issued to Brian Fehr on April 4, 2020, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Brian Fehr, subject to vesting conditions. The vesting conditions for the Ordinary shares are fully met. As of January 1, 2024, all the 490,196 Ordinary shares had vested. Mr. Fehr exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to the 490,196 Ordinary shares and exercises sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the 429,947 Ordinary shares. Mr Fehr’s registered address is 1400-1199 W Hastings St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3T5, Canada. |
(9) | Represents 43,138 Ordinary shares held by Peter Fry, comprised of (i) 3,236 Ordinary shares purchased directly from the Company prior to the IPO and (ii) 39,902 Ordinary shares that were issued on April 4, 2020 pursuant to the Original Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Peter Fry. Mr. P. Fry’s employment ceased in 2023. As of January 1, 2024, 26,603 Ordinary shares had vested. Mr. Fry will be required to transfer the remaining unvested 13,299 Ordinary shares to the Company. Mr. Fry exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares. Mr Fry’s registered address is 8835 Dunn Street, Canal Flats, BC, Canada V0B 1B0. |
(10) | Represents 108,573 Ordinary shares held by Elvoca Consulting Pty Ltd as trustee for GL Roberts Superannuation Fund, comprised of (i) 7,000 Ordinary shares purchased on the open market and (ii) 101,573 Ordinary shares purchased from the Company prior to the IPO. Elvoca Consulting Pty Ltd is trustee for GL Roberts Superannuation Fund and is controlled by Gregory Leslie Roberts and Janine Maree Roberts, and they exercise shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the Ordinary shares beneficially owned by that entity. |
(11) | Represents 12,766 Ordinary shares held by Aaron Hawkins, comprised of 12,766 Ordinary shares that were issued on May 10, 2021 pursuant to the Revised Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Aaron Hawkins. The vesting conditions for the Ordinary shares issued under the Revised Employee Share Plan are dependent on the length of employment, with the first 33.33% vesting on May 24, 2024, then the next 33.34% vesting on May 24, 2025 and the remaining 33.33% vesting on May 24, 2026, provided Mr. Hawkins remains employed until each such date. As of January 1, 2024, none of the Ordinary shares had vested. Mr. Hawkins exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all of the Ordinary shares. |
(12) | Represents 95,030 Ordinary shares held by Gregoire Mauve as trustee for the MAUVE Trust, comprised of (i) 22,620 Ordinary shares, of which these Ordinary shares were either converted from convertible notes purchased from the Company prior to the IPO or purchased from another shareholder pre-IPO, (ii) 43,137 Ordinary shares that were issued on April 4, 2020 pursuant to the Original Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement, and (iii) 29,273 Ordinary shares that were issued on November 11, 2020 pursuant to the Revised Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Gregoire Mauve. The vesting conditions for the Ordinary shares issued under the Original Employee Share Plan are partially met and the vesting conditions for the Ordinary shares issued under the Revised Employee Share Plan are fully met. As of January 1, 2024, 58,031 Ordinary shares had vested. The remaining 14,379 Ordinary shares will vest on January 1, 2025, provided Mr. Mauve remains employed until that date. Gregoire Mauve is trustee for the MAUVE Trust, and he exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares beneficially owned by that entity. |
(13) | Represents (i) 108,573 Ordinary shares held by Elvoca Consulting Pty Ltd as trustee for GL Roberts Superannuation Fund and (ii) 6,000 Ordinary shares held by Janine Maree Roberts. Elvoca Consulting Pty Ltd is trustee for GL Roberts Superannuation Fund and is controlled by Gregory Leslie Roberts and Janine Maree Roberts, and they exercise shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the Ordinary shares beneficially owned by that entity. Mrs. Roberts exercises sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the 6,000 Ordinary shares held in her name. |
(14) | Represents (i) 108,573 Ordinary shares held by Elvoca Consulting Pty Ltd as trustee for GL Roberts Superannuation Fund and (ii) 500 Ordinary shares held by Gregory Leslie Roberts. Elvoca Consulting Pty Ltd is trustee for GL Roberts Superannuation Fund and is controlled by Gregory Leslie Roberts and Janine Maree Roberts, and they exercise shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the Ordinary shares beneficially owned by that entity. Mr. Roberts exercises sole voting and dispositive power with respect to all the 500 Ordinary shares held in his name. |
(15) | Represents 21,569 Ordinary shares held by Maxim Yushchenko, comprised of (i) 432 Ordinary shares purchased directly from the Company prior to the IPO and (ii) 21,137 Ordinary shares that were issued on April 4, 2020 pursuant the Original Employee Share Plan subject to vesting conditions, whose purchase was funded pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the Company and Maxim Yushchenko. The vesting conditions for the Ordinary shares issued under the Original Employee Share Plan are partially met. As of January 1, 2024, 17,614 Ordinary shares had vested. The remaining 3,523 shares will vest on January 1, 2025 if Mr. Yushchenko remains employed until that date. Mr. Yushchenko exercises sole voting power but not dispositive power with respect to all the Ordinary shares. |
• | 527,118 of such Loan Funded Shares were issued on April 4, 2020 to certain employees of the Company pursuant to an employee share plan approved by shareholders on January 24, 2020 (the “Original Employee Share Plan”). As of January 1, 2024, an aggregate of 368,236 of such Loan Funded Shares were fully vested. The remainder of such Loan Funded Shares will vest in full between October 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025. |
• | 943,627 Loan Funded Shares were issued on April 4, 2020 to two individuals (or their nominated shareholder) who were identified as key persons in a business we acquired (the “PodTech Arrangement”). All such shares vested on achievement of performance milestones, all of which have been met. |
• | 483,304 Loan Funded Shares were issued on November 11, 2020 and May 10, 2021 pursuant to a revised employee share plan approved by shareholders on November 4, 2020 (the “Revised Employee Share Plan”). As of January 1, 2024, an aggregate of 352,505 of such Loan Funded Shares have fully vested. The remainder of such Loan Funded Shares will vest in full between July 1, 2025 and May 24, 2026. |
• | 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. |
• | that holder (or its affiliate) ceases to be a director due to voluntary retirement; |
• | the transfer of any B Class share by that holder (or an affiliate) to another person in breach of the Constitution (which is unremedied within 20 business days); |
• | the liquidation or winding up of the Company; or |
• | the date which is 12 years after the date upon which the company becomes first listed on a recognized stock exchange. |
• | 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. |
• | 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). |
• | 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. |
• | 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 dis-interested 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. |
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 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 |
Corporate law issue | | | Delaware law | | | Australian law |
| | | | 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 and B Class shares carry 15 votes (by poll) per Ordinary share held by the holder. |
| | | | |||
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. |
| | | | |||
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. | | | 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 |
Corporate law issue | | | Delaware law | | | Australian law |
| | 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. | | | 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; ○ 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. • 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 |
Corporate law issue | | | Delaware law | | | Australian law |
| | | | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. |
• | 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. This is not expected to be the case. |
• | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
• | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
• | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
• | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
• | privately negotiated transactions; |
• | settlement of short sales; |
• | in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the Selling Holders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security; |
• | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
• | a combination of any such methods of sale; or |
• | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
SEC Registration Fee | | | $1,453 |
Legal Fees and Expenses | | | 150,000 |
Accounting Fees and Expenses | | | 60,000 |
Printing Expenses | | | 25,000 |
Miscellaneous | | | 13,547 |
Total | | | $250,000 |
• | our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on September 13, 2023; |
• | our Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 3, 2022 (only with respect to “Restricted Share Units (‘RSUs’)” in Exhibit 99.4 thereto); |
• | our Reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on July 18, 2023 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 thereto), August 11, 2023 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 thereto), August 29, 2023 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 thereto), October 6, 2023 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 thereto), October 20, 2023, November 30, 2023 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 thereto), December 7, 2023, December 15, 2023 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 thereto), January 16, 2024 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 thereto), February 14, 2024 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1) and February 15, 2024 (other than the information contained in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and presentation as Exhibit 99.2 thereto); and |
• | the description of our share capital contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A dated November 16, 2021 (File No. 001-41072) filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |