Going concern
The Group has determined there is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern but has concluded it is appropriate to prepare the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis which contemplates continuity of normal business activities, the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The operating cash flows generated by the Group are inherently linked to several key uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, volatility associated with the economics of Bitcoin mining and the ability of the Group to execute its business plan.
For the six months ended 31 December 2023, the Group incurred a loss after tax of $10,527,000 (31 December 2022: $161,894,000) and net operating cash inflows of $21,246,000 (31 December 2022: outflows of $6,263,000). As at 31 December 2023, the Group had net current assets of $76,843,000 (30 June 2023: net current assets of $65,229,000) and net assets of $381,848,000 (30 June 2023: net assets of $305,361,000).
As further background, the Group’s miners are designed specifically to mine Bitcoin and its future success will depend in a large part upon the value of Bitcoin, and any sustained decline in its value could adversely affect the business and results of operations. Specifically, the revenues from Bitcoin mining operations are predominantly based upon two factors: (i) the number of Bitcoin rewards that are successfully mined and (ii) the value of Bitcoin. A decline in the market price of Bitcoin, increases in the difficulty of Bitcoin mining, changes in the regulatory environment, the halving event expected in Q4 FY2024 and/or adverse changes in other inherent risks would significantly negatively impact the Group’s operations. Due to the volatility of the Bitcoin price and the effects of the other aforementioned factors, there can be no guarantee that future mining operations will be profitable.
The strategy to mitigate these risks and uncertainties is to try execute a business plan aimed at operational efficiency, revenue growth, improving overall mining profit, managing operating expenses and working capital requirements, maintaining potential capital expenditure optionality, and securing additional financing, as needed, through one or more debt and/or equity capital raisings.
The continuing viability of the Group and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due are therefore significantly dependent upon several factors. These factors have been considered in preparing a cash flow forecast over the next 12 months to consider the going concern of the Group. The key assumptions include:
● | A base case scenario assuming recent Bitcoin prices and global hashrate, with a reduction in global hashrate following the halving event expected in Q4 FY2024; |
● | Three operational sites in British Columbia, Canada with installed nameplate capacity of 160MW; 80MW Mackenzie (BC, Canada), 50MW Prince George (BC, Canada), and 30MW Canal Flats (BC, Canada). |
● | A fourth operational site at Childress, Texas with initial installed nameplate capacity of 20MW incrementally increasing to 100 MW by 30 June 2024. |
The key assumptions have been stress tested using a range of Bitcoin price and global hashrate scenarios including with respect to the halving event expected in Q4 FY2024. The Group aims to maintain a degree of flexibility in both operating and capital expenditure cash flow management where it practicably makes sense, including ongoing internal cash flow monitoring and projection analysis performed to identify potential liquidity risks arising and to try to respond accordingly.
As a result, the Group has concluded there is material uncertainty related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and, therefore, that it may be unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. However, the Group considers that it will be successful in the above matters and will have adequate cash reserves to enable it to meet its obligations for at least one year from the date of approval of the consolidated financial statements, and, accordingly, has prepared the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis.
New or amended Accounting Standards and Interpretations adopted
The Group has adopted all of the new or amended IFRS and Interpretations as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) that are mandatory for the current reporting period.
Any new or amended Accounting Standards or Interpretations that are not yet mandatory have not been early adopted. The Group believes that the impact of recently issued standards or amendments to existing standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Group’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
Iris Energy Limited | ![graphic](https://capedge.com/proxy/6-K/0001140361-24-008183/image001.jpg) |
Notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements |
31 December 2023 |