Bitfarms Enters $32 Million Equipment Financing Agreement

Rhea-AI Summary

Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ: BITF) has announced a $32 million equipment financing agreement to support its Bitcoin mining operations. This non-dilutive capital will allow the company to purchase 6,100 Bitmain S19j Pros miners while retaining flexibility in financing. The two-year loan carries an interest rate of 14.5% and is secured by the equipment purchased. This partnership with BlockFi Lending LLC aligns with Bitfarms' strategy to enhance its mining capabilities and manage working capital effectively.

Positive

• Secured $32 million in equipment financing, enhancing operational flexibility.
• Partnership with BlockFi provides non-dilutive capital to reduce financial strain.

Negative

• Loan carries a high interest rate of 14.5%, increasing overall financial costs.
• Potential risks related to future Bitcoin price fluctuations that may impact operations.

Adds Another Source of Non-dilutive Capital

This news release constitutes a “designated news release” for the purposes of the Company’s prospectus supplement dated August 16, 2021 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated August 12, 2021.

TORONTO and BROSSARD, Québec, Feb. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ: BITF // TSXV: BITF), a global Bitcoin self-mining company, entered into a $32 million equipment financing agreement.

“This equipment financing agreement provides another source of non-dilutive capital, enabling us to finance equipment from our established mining operations so that we can invest growth capital into miner purchases and our new farms under construction,” said Jeff Lucas, CFO of Bitfarms. “With bitcoin (BTC) miner purchases making up the majority of our capital needs, this $32 million equipment financing frees up working capital and supports our flexible and non-recourse financing options, which also include our recently announced $100 million BTC collateralized loan facility.”

Under the terms of the financing agreement, the Company entered into an equipment loan for the recent purchase of, and is secured by, 6,100 Bitmain S19j Pros for a total of US$32 million. The loan carries a two-year term and an interest rate of 14.5%.

The financing was provided by BlockFi Lending LLC. “We are pleased to partner with Bitfarms on this transaction. Our goal is to support our client's working capital needs and provide them with financial leverage for future growth,” said Patrick Guerriero, Director of Miner Finance at BlockFi.

About Bitfarms Ltd.
Founded in 2017, Bitfarms is a global Bitcoin self-mining company, running vertically integrated mining operations with onsite technical repair, proprietary data analytics and Company-owned electrical engineering and installation services to deliver high operational performance and uptime.

Having demonstrated rapid growth and stellar operations, Bitfarms became the first Bitcoin mining company to complete its long form prospectus with the Ontario Securities Commission and started trading on the TSX-V in July 2019. On February 24, 2021, Bitfarms was honoured to be announced as a Rising Star by the TSX-V. On June 21, 2021, Bitfarms started trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. On February 24, 2022, the Company was further honoured by the TSX-V as Venture 50 Winner, placing first in the Technology sector.

Bitfarms has a diversified production platform with five industrial scale facilities located in Québec, one in Washington state, and one in Paraguay. Each facility is over 99% powered with environmentally friendly hydro power and secured with long-term power contracts. Bitfarms is currently the only publicly traded pure-play mining company audited by a Big Four accounting firm.

To learn more about Bitfarms’ events, developments, and online communities:

Website: www.bitfarms.com

https://www.facebook.com/bitfarms/
https://twitter.com/Bitfarms_io
https://www.instagram.com/bitfarms/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitfarms/

About BlockFi Lending LLC
BlockFi is a crypto-financial services company focused on harnessing the power of cryptocurrencies and blockchain payment rails to create a globally accessible, crypto wealth management platform. At BlockFi, we provide clients with broad access to a suite of financial products and services, including crypto-backed loans, interest-bearing accounts to store crypto assets, and the world’s first crypto rewards credit card. Founded in 2017 by Zac Prince & Flori Marquez, BlockFi is one of the fastest-growing private fintech companies in the world currently valued at $4.5 billion USD. Headquartered in Jersey City, NJ, we serve over 1 million verified clients and 350 global financial institutions with approximately $10 billion USD in assets under management. BlockFi’s mission has always been to bridge traditional and crypto-based financial products, and at the heart of those efforts has been a focus on educating consumers about their benefits and how to grow their wealth in crypto.

Cautionary Statement

Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), Nasdaq, or any other securities exchange or regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are covered by safe harbors under Canadian and United States securities laws. The information in this release regarding the equipment loan with BlockFi Lending LLC and the benefits of this and other debt financing initiatives, its expansion plans, and other future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking information.

Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information.

This forward-looking information is based on assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time they were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to: the global economic climate; dilution; the Company’s limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing, including the Company’s ability to utilize the Company’s at-the-market offering (the “ATM Program”) and the prices at which the Company may sell Common Shares in the ATM Program, as well as capital market conditions in general; risks relating to the strategy of maintaining and increasing Bitcoin holdings and the impact of depreciating Bitcoin prices on working capital; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for the Company to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Company and the industry; network security risks; the ability of the Company to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; share dilution resulting from the ATM Program and from other equity issuances; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. In addition, particular factors that could impact future results of the business of Bitfarms include, but are not limited to: the construction and operation of blockchain infrastructure may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; the digital currency market; the ability to successfully mine digital currency; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; it may not be possible to profitably liquidate the current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on operations; an increase in network difficulty may have a significant negative impact on operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; the anticipated growth and sustainability of hydroelectricity for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining in the applicable jurisdictions, the ability to complete current and future financings, any regulations or laws that will prevent Bitfarms from operating its business; historical prices of digital currencies and the ability to mine digital currencies that will be consistent with historical prices; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of digital currencies, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; and, the adoption or expansion of any regulation or law that will prevent Bitfarms from operating its business, or make it more costly to do so. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the Company’s filings on www.SEDAR.com (which are also available on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov), including the annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on April 7, 2021. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Bitfarms’ normal course of business. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law.

Contacts

Investor Relations:

LHA Investor Relations
David Barnard
+1 415-433-3777
Investors@bitfarms.com

US Media:

YAP Global
Mia Grodsky, Account Executive
mia@yapglobal.com

Québec Media:

Ryan Affaires publiques
Valérie Pomerleau, Public Affairs and Communications
valerie@ryanap.com

FAQ

What is Bitfarms' latest financing agreement?

Bitfarms announced a $32 million equipment financing agreement to enhance its Bitcoin mining operations.

How will the $32 million financing impact Bitfarms?

The financing will provide non-dilutive capital to purchase new miners while maintaining financial flexibility.

What are the terms of the loan Bitfarms secured?

The loan has a two-year term with an interest rate of 14.5% and is secured by the purchase of 6,100 Bitmain S19j Pros.

Who is providing the financing for Bitfarms?

The financing is provided by BlockFi Lending LLC.

What risks does Bitfarms face with this financing?

Bitfarms may face financial strain due to the 14.5% interest rate and potential volatility in Bitcoin prices.