NANO Nuclear Energy Announces Closing of Upsized $36 Million Underwritten Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

NANO Nuclear Energy has successfully closed an upsized $36 million underwritten public offering, selling 2,117,646 shares of common stock and warrants at $17.00 per share. The warrants, exercisable immediately with a five-year term, allow purchase of 1,217,646 additional shares. This follows two previous offerings in May and July 2024, which raised over $30 million. The company expects net proceeds of approximately $32.6 million, which will fund research and development of its ZEUS and ODIN microreactors, nuclear fuel transportation design, marketing activities, regulatory compliance, and expansion of its Oak Ridge, Tennessee headquarters.

Positive

• Raised $36 million through successful public offering
• Total capital raised exceeds $65 million in under 6 months as public company
• Strong investor interest leading to oversubscribed financing round
• Expected net proceeds of $32.6 million after expenses

Negative

• Potential shareholder dilution from new share issuance
• Additional dilution possible from warrant exercises
• Further dilution risk from underwriter's remaining option to purchase 317,646 shares

Insights

Financial Analyst

The $36 million upsized offering represents a significant capital raise for NANO Nuclear, bringing their total fundraising to over $65 million in less than 6 months as a public company. The offering structure, selling shares at $17.00 with attached warrants, provides both immediate capital and potential future funding through warrant exercises. The 90.5% net proceeds efficiency ($32.6 million after costs) is commendable.

The capital allocation strategy focuses on critical areas: R&D for ZEUS and ODIN microreactors, business development and infrastructure expansion. With a market cap of $614 million, this financing significantly strengthens their balance sheet without excessive dilution. The oversubscribed nature of the offering and institutional investor participation signals strong market confidence in their business model and technology roadmap.

Nuclear Technology Expert

The strategic focus on microreactor development through the ZEUS and ODIN projects positions NANO Nuclear in the high-growth advanced nuclear sector. The establishment of a Nuclear Technology Headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tennessee is particularly significant - this location offers access to premier nuclear research facilities and talent pool. The emphasis on fuel transportation design and facility development indicates a comprehensive approach to the nuclear fuel cycle.

The company's vertical integration strategy, coupled with substantial R&D investment, could accelerate their technology commercialization timeline. The focus on multiple revenue streams through reactor development, fuel services and potential strategic acquisitions demonstrates a well-rounded business approach in the advanced nuclear market.

Additional capital following public offerings in May and July 2024 to fund technology advancements and growth opportunities

New York, N.Y., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear”), a leading vertically integrated advanced nuclear energy and technology company developing portable clean nuclear energy solutions, today announced that it has closed its previously announced upsized $36 million firm commitment, registered underwritten public offering.

In the offering, NANO Nuclear sold 2,117,646 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 1,217,646 shares of common stock at $17.00 per share and associated warrant, less underwriting discounts and expenses. Such warrants include warrants to purchase 158,823 shares of common stock which were purchased by the underwriter at closing pursuant to a partial exercise of its offering over-allotment option. The underwriter retains an option through November 22, 2024, to purchase an additional 317,646 shares of common stock. The warrants are exercisable immediately, have a term of five years, and have an exercise price of $17.00 per share. The warrants will not trade on any market.

This offering follows NANO Nuclear’s initial public offering which closed on May 10, 2024, and its underwritten follow-on offering which closed on July 15, 2024, from which NANO Nuclear received total gross proceeds of over $30 million.

NANO Nuclear expects its net proceeds from the offering, after underwriting commissions and offering expenses, will be approximately $32.6 million. NANO Nuclear intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for (i) research and development of its products and technologies, including its ‘ZEUS’ and ‘ODIN’ microreactors and nuclear fuel transportation design optimization, fuel facility investigations and development, test work and scoping studies, and other technology research and development; (ii) marketing, promotion and business development activities; and (iii) regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, hiring additional employees, retaining additional contractors and building out NANO Nuclear’s new Nuclear Technology Headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. NANO Nuclear will also use the proceeds for general working capital and may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire, license and invest in complementary products, technologies, or additional businesses, although NANO Nuclear currently has no agreements or commitments with respect to any such transaction.

“We have worked extremely hard to establish NANO Nuclear as one of the leaders in the U.S. advanced nuclear energy market. It is incredibly gratifying to see the continued support from our current shareholder base as well as new fundamental and institutional investors in this oversubscribed financing round, which will fuel our efforts to further develop and refine our proprietary technologies,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “With over $65 million raised in under 6 months as a public company, we are positioned to drive shareholder value and realize our vision of becoming a leading, diversified, and vertically integrated nuclear energy company.”

The Benchmark Company, LLC acted as the sole book-running representative for the offering. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP acted as counsel to NANO Nuclear. Lucosky Brookman LLP acted as counsel to The Benchmark Company. Withum Smith+Brown PC are NANO Nuclear’s registered independent auditors.

Registration statements relating to this public offering were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and declared. This registration statement can be obtained by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Please see such registration statement for additional information regarding NANO Nuclear.

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 jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About NANO Nuclear Energy Inc.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across four business lines: (i) cutting edge portable microreactor technology, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation and (iv) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s products in technical development are “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon's surface.

For further information, please contact:

Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release or related events contain or may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements (including statements related to the public offering and the proposed use of proceeds from such offering, as described herein) related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “seek,” "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", “potential”, "will", "should", "could", "would" or "may" and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management's current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which may be beyond our control. Readers are cautioned that actual results may differ materially and adversely from the results implied in forward-looking statements. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the business of a start-up business operating a highly regulated industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and the Company therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release, and forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

FAQ

How much did NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE) raise in its October 2024 public offering?

NANO Nuclear Energy raised $36 million through an upsized underwritten public offering, selling shares and warrants at $17.00 per share.

What is the exercise price and term of the warrants issued in NANO Nuclear's (NNE) October 2024 offering?

The warrants have an exercise price of $17.00 per share, are exercisable immediately, and have a five-year term.

How will NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE) use the proceeds from its October 2024 offering?

The proceeds will fund R&D of ZEUS and ODIN microreactors, nuclear fuel transportation design, marketing activities, regulatory compliance, and expansion of its Oak Ridge facility.

How much total capital has NANO Nuclear (NNE) raised since going public in 2024?

NANO Nuclear has raised over $65 million in total through three public offerings since May 2024.