RNS (copied as much as poss)28 Apr 2023 08:16
Operating highlights
-- Increased hashrate capacity by 55% from 1.6 EH/s at the end of 2021 to 2.5 EH/s at the end of 2022
-- Energized the Helios facility in Dickens County, Texas and commenced mining operations on 5 May 2022
-- Executed an agreement with ePIC Blockchain Technologies ("ePIC"), as amended, to purchase BlockMiner machines for use with Intel's Blockscale ASIC chip (2,870 machines expected to be deployed in Q3 2023)
-- Completed a swap agreement with Core Scientific ( "Core") for S19J Pro machines representing approximately 970 PH/s, which ended the Group's hosting agreement with Core in place of self-mining operations at Helios
-- Released the Group's 2021 Sustainability Report and maintained climate positive status by producing no Scope 1 emissions and offsetting all Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions through renewable energy credits and verifiable emissions reductions
Financial highlights
-- Total number of Bitcoin or Bitcoin Equivalent ("BTC") mined during 2022 was 2,15 6, a 5% increase compared to the BTC mined in 2021, despite an increase in global hashrate and network difficulty
-- Revenues of GBP4 7.4 million ($58.6 million), a decrease of 36% from 2021, driven primarily by a significant decrease in Bitcoin price and an increase in the global hashrate and associated network difficulty level
-- Adjusted EBITDA of GBP1.0 million ($1.2 million), down from Adjusted EBITDA of GBP55.0 million ($74.2 million) in 2021
-- Mining margin of 54%, down from 84% in 2021. Similar to revenue, this decrease was largely attributable to the decrease in Bitcoin price and an increase in network difficulty, as well as significantly higher than expected power costs in Texas
-- Net loss of GBP194.2 million ($240.2 million), driven primarily by the change in fair value of digital assets, impairment of assets, and losses associated with our divestitures
-- Total number of BTC held at 31 December 2022 was 141, of which 116 were Bitcoin Equivalents
Sale of Helios & Hosting Agreement with Galaxy
-- On 29 December 2022, the Group completed a series of agreements with Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. (TSX: GLXY) ("Galaxy")
-- As part of the agreements, Argo sold its Helios facility to Galaxy for GBP5 3 million ($65 million), Argo refinanced existing equipment financing loans with a new asset-backed loan from Galaxy for an amount of GBP28 million ($35 million), and Galaxy agreed to host Argo's mining machines at Helios ("the Transactions")
-- The Transactions improved the Group's balance sheet and liquidity by reducing total indebtedness by GBP3 3 million ($41 million) and improving its cash position. As of 31 December 2022, after accounting for the Transactions, the Group's total debt was approximately GBP63 million ($76 million), and debt, net of cash, was GBP46 million ($56 million)
-- Argo maintained ownership of its entire fleet of mining machines, and Galaxy is now hosting the fleet of approximately 23,619 Bitmain S19J Pro mac