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The deal, if executed, would essentially restructure the company into a hosting firm for Bitcoin mining rigs.
According to a new filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Dec. 20, Bitcoin (BTC) miner Greenidge stated that it reached an agreement with its creditor, fintech firm NYDIG, to restructure approximately $74 million worth of debt. The deal, in the form of a non-binding term sheet, would result in a major change to Greenidge's current business strategy. Essentially, it would transform Greenidge from self-mining to hosting for NYDIG's mining rigs.
Under the conditions, NYDIG would purchase miners with approximately 2.8 exahash per second (EH/s) of mining capacity to be hosted by Greenidge, which will facilitate NYDIG rights to a mining site within three months following the completion of debt restructuring and hosting agreements. In exchange for consideration amounting to the purchased miners and transfer of mining infrastructure and credits to NYDIG, the firm would agree to a $57 million to $68 million debt reduction for Greenidge.
Additionally, Greenidge will be collateralizing a sizable portion of its unencumbered assets to secure the remaining balance of the NYDIG loan. The firm would retain ownership of miners with a capacity of 1.2 EH/s. As of October 31, 2022, Greenidge had approximately 2.5 EH/s of mining capacity from approximately 24,500 miners in service.
However, the company also wrote that "there remains uncertainty regarding Greenidge's financial condition and substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern." Last month, Greenidge used approximately $8 million of its cash during operations, of which $5.5 million went to principal and interest payments. As of November 30, 2022, the company's cash balance amounted to approximately $22.0 million. Greenidge also warned that "NYDIG and Greenidge will endeavor to enter into definitive documentation reflecting the terms described in this release, but there can be no assurances made that such terms will not change materially nor can there be any assurances made that the transactions discussed in this release will be consummated."
Last September, Cointelegraph reported that Greenidge completed a merger with customer and technical support solutions provider Support.com to become a publicly listed mining firm on the NASDAQ. Since then, shares have plunged over 99%, partly due to a combination of the ongoing crypto winter, higher electricity prices, higher mining difficulty, and lower market prices for Bitcoin mining rigs.
The merger is expected to push through as of market close on Sept. 14, with Greenidge slated to begin trading on the NASDAQ the following day.
Bitcoin mining and power generation company Greenidge is set to complete a merger with customer and technical support solutions provider Support.com to become the latest publicly listed mining firm.
Once the merger transaction is complete, Support.com Inc. will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc. The new entity’s Class A shares will trade under the ticker GREE.
According to a Sept. 13 announcement published by the SEC, the merger is expected to become effective by market close the following day. The merger, settled as a stock-for-stock transaction, will see each share in Support.com Inc. automatically converted into the right for its bearer to receive 0.115 Class A Greenidge shares. Greenidge CEO, Jeff Kirt, stated:
"This merger is an important next step for Greenidge as we build upon our existing, integrated and proven platform for Bitcoin mining and generation of lower carbon affordable power."
According to a March 22 statement that first announced the planned merger, Support.com will also provide Greenidge with $33 million in additional cash.
"This transaction will build upon Greenidge’s successful business by providing them with additional cash funding and a public currency to fund their growth plans, as well as important new capabilities including customer interface, security software, and privacy expertise,” said Support.com's president and CEO, Lance Rosenzweig.
Upon completion of the merger, Kirt will lead the combined company as CEO. Rosenzweig, will remain in his position as CEO of the existing Support.com business, which will continue to operate in the ordinary course as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greenidge.
Related: Crypto miner Argo Blockchain goes ‘climate positive’ on greenhouse gas emissions
In July, Greenidge announced its commitment to become a 100% carbon-neutral Bitcoin mining operation by purchasing voluntary carbon offsets from a portfolio of U.S. greenhouse gas reduction projects.
The firm also aims to utilize low-carbon sources of energy at its facility in Upstate New York, and offset the carbon footprint of its new South Carolina plant by sourcing electricity from zero-carbon sources.