Canaan Inc. Closes Third Tranche of Preferred Shares Financing

Rhea-AI Summary

Canaan Inc. (NASDAQ: CAN) has closed the third and final tranche of its previously announced preferred shares financing, raising additional gross proceeds of $50 million. The company issued 50,000 Preferred Shares at $1,000.00 per share. The proceeds will be used to manufacture or invest in digital mining sites and equipment in North America. This strategic move aims to diversify revenue streams, reduce volatility, and capitalize on the anticipated Bitcoin bull market.

Key changes in the third tranche include:

• Shares issued as 'restricted securities'
• Convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares after six months
• weekly sales of Conversion Shares to 10% of ADS trading volume
• Fixed Conversion Price increased to $4.00
• Addition of a 90-day average SOFR factor to the Conversion Amount calculation

Positive

• Raised additional $50 million in gross proceeds
• Expansion into North American self-mining activities
• Strategic positioning for anticipated Bitcoin bull market
• Potential for more diversified revenue stream and reduced volatility

Negative

• Shares issued as 'restricted securities' with no obligation to register
• Conversion of shares may lead to potential dilution for existing shareholders
• Addition of SOFR factor increases conversion costs for the company

Insights

Financial Analyst

Canaan's closure of the third tranche of preferred shares financing, raising $50 million, is a significant development. This brings their total raised capital to $125 million across three tranches, demonstrating strong investor confidence. The funds are earmarked for expanding self-mining operations and Bitcoin mining machine business in North America, potentially diversifying revenue streams and reducing volatility.

Key points to consider:

• The Fixed Conversion Price for the third tranche increased to $4.00, compared to the ADS closing price of $1.06 on September 27, 2024. This higher conversion price could be beneficial for existing shareholders, potentially reducing dilution.
• The addition of a SOFR factor in the conversion calculation adds an interest-like component, increasing the effective cost of capital for Canaan.
• The 10% weekly trading volume limit on the investor's open market sales of converted shares may help prevent sudden stock price pressures.

While this financing provides Canaan with significant capital for expansion, investors should monitor how effectively the company deploys these funds in the competitive and volatile cryptocurrency mining sector.

Cryptocurrency Mining Expert

Canaan's strategic move to expand self-mining operations in North America is noteworthy. This shift could offer several advantages:

• Regulatory stability: North America generally provides a more predictable regulatory environment for crypto mining compared to some other regions.
• Energy infrastructure: Access to diverse and potentially more sustainable energy sources could improve operational efficiency and ESG profile.
• Market positioning: Establishing a stronger presence in North America could help Canaan compete more effectively with Western mining companies.

However, challenges remain. The cryptocurrency mining sector is highly competitive, with margins often squeezed during Bitcoin price downturns. Canaan's success will depend on efficient deployment of capital, optimal site selection and ability to navigate potential regulatory changes. The company's dual focus on self-mining and equipment sales could provide some hedge against market volatility, but also requires careful balance of resources and strategy execution.

Plans to fund self-mining expansion and Bitcoin mining machine business in North America 

SINGAPORE, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Canaan Inc. (NASDAQ: CAN) ("Canaan" or the "Company"), a leading high-performance computing solutions provider, today announced that it has closed the third and final tranche of its previously announced preferred shares financing (the "Preferred Shares Financing"), raising additional total gross proceeds of $50 million. Pursuant to the third tranche of Preferred Shares Financing, the Company issued 50,000 Preferred Shares (the "Third Closing Shares") at a price of US$1,000.00 per Preferred Share. Canaan agreed that the proceeds from the sale of the Third Closing Shares will be used by the Company and/or its subsidiaries to manufacture or invest in digital mining sites and equipment to be deployed or sold in North America, including any acquisition or disposition of assets from or between subsidiaries.

"We are delighted to continue our partnership with this institutional investor. We believe their continued commitment demonstrates their confidence in Canaan and the significant opportunities this collaboration offers for both parties," said Nangeng Zhang, chairman and chief executive officer of Canaan.  "By expanding our North American self-mining activities, we expect to benefit from a more diversified revenue stream, reduced volatility, and a stable regulatory environment. This strategic initiative positions us to capitalize on the anticipated Bitcoin bull market, enhancing our ability to generate robust returns from our self-mining operations.  We also hope that working on projects that utilize the Northern American power infrastructure will expand our team's expertise on blockchain data center operations and beyond." 

On November 27, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement") with an institutional investor (the "Buyer"), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Buyer up to 125,000 Series A Convertible Preferred Shares at the price of US$1,000.00 for each Preferred Share. On December 11, 2023, the Company closed the first tranche of the Preferred Shares Financing, raising total gross proceeds of $25 million. On January 22, 2024, the Company closed the second tranche of the Preferred Shares Financing, raising total gross proceeds of $50 million.

On September 27, 2024, the Company closed the third and final tranche of the Preferred Shares Financing under the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Third Closing Shares were sold under the amended terms of certain documents executed on September 26, 2024, namely, a global amendment (the "Global Amendment") to the Securities Purchase Agreement as well as an amended certificate of designations (the "Certificate of Designations") of Preferred Shares, par value US$0.00000005 per share, as adopted by the Company. The amendments to the original terms of the securities purchase agreement and certificate of designations include, among other things,

(a) while the first and second tranches of preferred shares were sold as registered securities under a registration statement of the Company, the Third Closing Shares were issued and sold as "restricted securities" under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws, and the Buyer acknowledged that Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Third Closing Shares, or the ADSs into which they may be converted;

(b) the Third Closing Shares are convertible, after six (6) months following their issuance, into Class A Ordinary Shares that can be deposited with the Depositary for the issuance of ADSs; and

(c) so long as the Buyer holds any of the Preferred Shares or any Conversion Shares, the Buyer will limit its aggregate sales of Conversion Shares on the open market in any given calendar week to no more than 10% of the weekly trading volume of the ADSs on all trading markets for such week.

The Buyer and the Company have also made amendments to the preferred share conversion mechanism under the Certificate of Designations. First, the Fixed Conversion Price has increased. For the first and second tranches, the Fixed Conversion Price was 120% of the Weighted Average Price of the ADSs on the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Issuance Date of the Series A Preferred Shares being converted.  For the third tranche, the Fixed Conversion Price has been modified to $4.00. For reference, the closing trading price of the Company's ADSs on September 27, 2024, was $1.06. Second, a 90-day average Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") published on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of conversion, or a SOFR factor, has been added to the calculation of the Conversion Amount, reflecting an additional cost for the Company to use the proceeds from the sales of the Third Closing Shares until the Conversion Date. As of September 27, 2024, the 90-day average SOFR was 5.32675%.

The Securities Purchase Agreement (as amended) contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company and the Buyer, and indemnification obligations of the Company against certain liabilities, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The provisions of the Securities Purchase Agreement (as amended), including the representations and warranties contained therein, are not for the benefit of any party other than the parties to such agreement and are not intended as a document for investors and the public to obtain factual information about the current state of affairs of the Company. Rather, investors and the public should look to other disclosures contained in the Company's filings with the SEC.

The Certificate of Designations creates the Preferred Shares and provides for the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the Preferred Shares, which becomes effective upon its adoption.

The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Securities Purchase Agreement, as amended, and the Certificate of Designations, as amended. The full text of the amendment to the Securities Purchase Agreement and the form of amended Certificate of Designations are to be filed as exhibits to the Company's current report on Form 6-K dated on or around September 30, 2024. The full text of the Securities Purchase Agreement was previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's current report on Form 6-K dated November 28, 2023. Capitalized terms used in this press release without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Certificate of Designations, and any amendments thereto.                                                                                                                                             

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, which is made only by means of a prospectus supplement and related prospectus. There will be no sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation of an offer to buy or sale would be unlawful.

About Canaan Inc.

Established in 2013, Canaan Inc. (NASDAQ: CAN), is a technology company focusing on ASIC high-performance computing chip design, chip research and development, computing equipment production, and software services. Canaan has extensive experience in chip design and streamlined production in the ASIC field. In 2013, Canaan's founding team shipped to its customers the world's first batch of mining machines incorporating ASIC technology in bitcoin's history under the brand name Avalon. In 2019, Canaan completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq Global Market. To learn more about Canaan, please visit https://www.canaan.io/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward−looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward−looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, Canaan Inc.'s anticipated financing plans and its intended use of proceeds contain forward−looking statements. Canaan Inc. may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Canaan Inc.'s beliefs and expectations, are forward−looking statements. Forward−looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward−looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the bitcoin industry and the price of bitcoin; the Company's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products, especially its bitcoin mining machines; the Company's expectations regarding maintaining and strengthening its relationships with production partners and customers; the Company's investment plans and strategies, fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results; competition in its industry in China; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company and cryptocurrency. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Canaan Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward−looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

Canaan Inc.
Ms. Xi Zhang
Email: IR@canaan-creative.com 

ICR, LLC.
Robin Yang
Tel: +1 (347) 396-3281
Email: canaan.ir@icrinc.com 

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SOURCE Canaan Inc.

FAQ

How much did Canaan (CAN) raise in the third tranche of preferred shares financing?

Canaan (CAN) raised $50 million in gross proceeds in the third tranche of preferred shares financing.

What is the purpose of Canaan's (CAN) preferred shares financing?

The financing is intended to fund self-mining expansion and Bitcoin mining machine business in North America, aiming to diversify revenue streams and capitalize on the anticipated Bitcoin bull market.

What is the new Fixed Conversion Price for Canaan's (CAN) third tranche of preferred shares?

The Fixed Conversion Price for the third tranche of Canaan's (CAN) preferred shares has been modified to $4.00.

When can the third tranche preferred shares of Canaan (CAN) be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares?

The third tranche preferred shares of Canaan (CAN) can be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares after six months following their issuance.