Cadiz Inc. Announces $23 Million Registered Direct Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Cadiz Inc. (NASDAQ: CDZI) has announced a $23.38 million registered direct offering of 7,000,000 common stock shares at $3.34 per share. Heerema International Group Services SA, the company's largest shareholder, participated to maintain its 34% ownership. The offering is expected to close around November 5, 2024. The proceeds will fund the development of water supply and groundwater banking projects, including pipeline construction planned for 2025, wellfield infrastructure, business development, and general corporate purposes. B. Riley Securities is acting as the sole placement agent.

Positive

• Secured $23.38 million in new funding through stock offering
• Maintained support from largest shareholder Heerema (34% ownership)
• Funding secured for planned 2025 pipeline construction projects

Negative

• Potential dilution of existing shareholders due to 7 million new shares issuance
• Stock offering price of $3.34 may impact market value

Insights

Financial Analyst

This $23.38 million registered direct offering at $3.34 per share represents a significant capital raise for Cadiz. The pricing shows a modest discount to recent trading levels, while maintaining key shareholder Heerema's 34% ownership stake signals continued major investor confidence. The funds will primarily support the company's water infrastructure development, including pipeline projects slated for 2025. Key positives:

• Strengthened balance sheet for capital-intensive projects
• Strategic timing ahead of 2025 construction plans
• Maintained ownership structure with key investor

However, the dilution impact and execution risks for the planned infrastructure projects warrant careful consideration. The company's ability to efficiently deploy this capital into revenue-generating assets will be important for long-term value creation.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadiz, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDZI/CDZIP), a California water solutions company, today announced that it has entered into a placement agent agreement for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 7,000,000 shares of its common stock in a registered direct offering (the "Offering") at a price of $3.34 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the Offering are expected to be approximately $23.38 million, before deducting the placement agent's fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company's largest equity shareholder, Heerema International Group Services SA ("Heerema"), participated in the Offering maintaining ownership of approximately 34% of the Company's common stock.

The Offering is expected to close on or about November 5, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to advance development of its water supply and groundwater banking project which may include acquisition of equipment and materials intended to be used in construction of facilities related to its northern and /or southern pipeline projects which the Company expects to begin in 2025. Net proceeds from the Offering may also be used for the equipment and materials related to wellfield infrastructure on land owned by it and its subsidiaries, business development activities, other capital expenditures, working capital, the expansion of the business and acquisitions, and general corporate purposes.

B. Riley Securities is acting as the sole placement agent in the registered direct offering.

The securities described above were offered pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including a base prospectus, that was initially filed by the Company on August 13, 2024 and declared effective on August 22, 2024. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available for free on the SEC's website located at http://www.sec.gov.

Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, from: B. Riley Securities, 1300 17th Street North, Suite 1300, Arlington, Virginia 22209, Attn: Prospectus Department, by email at prospectuses@brileyfin.com or by telephone at (703) 312-9580.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Cadiz, Inc.
Founded in 1983, Cadiz, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDZI) is a California water solutions company dedicated to providing access to clean, reliable and affordable water for people through a unique combination of water supply, storage, pipeline and treatment solutions. With 45,000 acres of land in California, 2.5 million acre-feet of water supply, 220 miles of pipeline assets and the most cost-effective water treatment filtration technology in the industry, Cadiz offers a full suite of solutions to address the impacts of climate change on clean water access. For more information, please visit https://www.cadizinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to the Company's expectations with respect to the completion and timing of the closing of the registered direct offering and the intended use of proceeds. No assurance can be given that the registered direct offering discussed above will be completed on the terms or timing described in this release or at all. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, changes in market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the registered direct offering, risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business and finances in general, as well as other risk factors described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent filings. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Cadiz, Inc.

FAQ

How much money did Cadiz (CDZI) raise in its November 2024 offering?

Cadiz raised approximately $23.38 million in gross proceeds through a registered direct offering of 7,000,000 shares at $3.34 per share.

What will Cadiz (CDZI) use the proceeds from its 2024 stock offering for?

The proceeds will fund water supply and groundwater banking project development, pipeline construction projects planned for 2025, wellfield infrastructure, business development, and general corporate purposes.

How many shares did Cadiz (CDZI) offer in its November 2024 direct offering?

Cadiz offered 7,000,000 shares of common stock in its registered direct offering.

What is Heerema's ownership stake in Cadiz (CDZI) after the 2024 offering?

Heerema maintained its approximately 34% ownership stake in Cadiz by participating in the offering.