TeraWulf Enters Into Long-Term Ground Lease at Lake Mariner Facility to Attract High-Quality Customers
October 10 2024 - 8:15AM
TeraWulf Inc. (Nasdaq: WULF) (“TeraWulf” or the “Company”), a
leading owner and operator of vertically integrated,
next-generation digital infrastructure powered by predominantly
zero-carbon energy, today announced a new, long-term ground lease
agreement at Lake Mariner (“New Ground Lease”) that supports the
Company’s expansion into high-performance computing (HPC) and AI
data centers and positions TeraWulf to attract long-term,
high-quality customers.
The New Ground Lease with Somerset Operating Company, LLC
(“Somerset”) replaces the original Lake Mariner lease, which was
entered into in May 2021 and had ten years remaining. The New
Ground Lease has a term of 35 years, with an option to extend for
an additional 45 years, and increases the Lake Mariner land area by
nearly 50%, expanding from 107 acres to 157 acres. Importantly, the
New Ground Lease includes no escalation in annual lease payments on
a per acre basis when compared to the original Lake Mariner lease
and also grants TeraWulf exclusive access to infrastructure
capacity of up to 750 MW, facilitating the Company’s future growth
plans and value creation initiatives.
The New Ground Lease was negotiated and approved by the Audit
Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the "Committee"),
which is comprised of three independent directors. The Committee
consulted independent legal counsel and the Company’s financial
advisor, as Somerset is owned by the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer. The Committee received an opinion from the Company’s
financial advisor that the consideration to be received by the
Company is fair, from a financial point of view, to the
Company.
The consideration paid to Somerset’s parent company in exchange
for Somerset’s termination of the original lease and entering into
the New Ground Lease is comprised of 20 million shares of
TeraWulf’s common stock and $12 million in cash. Under the terms of
the New Lease, Somerset’s parent company will be prohibited from
selling 15 million shares for 18 months and the remaining 5 million
shares for 12 months. The primarily equity-based structure of the
consideration further aligns the interests of TeraWulf's Chief
Executive Officer with the long-term financial and operational
goals of the Company and its shareholders.
About TeraWulf
TeraWulf develops, owns, and operates environmentally
sustainable, next-generation data center infrastructure in the
United States, specifically designed for Bitcoin mining and
high-performance computing. Led by a team of seasoned energy
entrepreneurs, the Company owns and operates the Lake Mariner
facility situated on the expansive site of a now retired coal plant
in Western New York. Currently, TeraWulf generates revenue
primarily through Bitcoin mining, leveraging predominantly
zero-carbon energy sources, including nuclear and hydroelectric
power. Committed to environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
principles that align with its business objectives, TeraWulf aims
to deliver industry-leading economics in mining and data center
operations at an industrial scale.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe
harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include
statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations
that are not historical facts. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed
forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements
are typically identified by words such as “plan,” “believe,”
“goal,” “target,” “aim,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,”
“outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “continue,” “could,”
“may,” “might,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,”
“would” and other similar words and expressions, although the
absence of these words or expressions does not mean that a
statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are
based on the current expectations and beliefs of TeraWulf’s
management and are inherently subject to a number of factors,
risks, uncertainties and assumptions and their potential effects.
There can be no assurance that future developments will be those
that have been anticipated. Actual results may vary materially from
those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements based on a
number of factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including,
among others: (1) conditions in the cryptocurrency mining industry,
including fluctuation in the market pricing of bitcoin and other
cryptocurrencies, and the economics of cryptocurrency mining,
including as to variables or factors affecting the cost, efficiency
and profitability of cryptocurrency mining; (2) competition among
the various providers of cryptocurrency mining services; (3)
changes in applicable laws, regulations and/or permits affecting
TeraWulf’s operations or the industries in which it operates,
including regulation regarding power generation, cryptocurrency
usage and/or cryptocurrency mining, and/or regulation regarding
safety, health, environmental and other matters, which could
require significant expenditures; (4) the ability to implement
certain business objectives and to timely and cost-effectively
execute integrated projects; (5) failure to obtain adequate
financing on a timely basis and/or on acceptable terms with regard
to growth strategies or operations; (6) loss of public confidence
in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies and the potential for
cryptocurrency market manipulation; (7) adverse geopolitical or
economic conditions, including a high inflationary environment; (8)
the potential of cybercrime, money-laundering, malware infections
and phishing and/or loss and interference as a result of equipment
malfunction or break-down, physical disaster, data security breach,
computer malfunction or sabotage (and the costs associated with any
of the foregoing); (9) the availability, delivery schedule and cost
of equipment necessary to maintain and grow the business and
operations of TeraWulf, including mining equipment and
infrastructure equipment meeting the technical or other
specifications required to achieve its growth strategy; (10)
employment workforce factors, including the loss of key employees;
(11) litigation relating to TeraWulf and/or its business; and (12)
other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the
Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). Potential investors, stockholders and other readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were
made. TeraWulf does not assume any obligation to publicly update
any forward-looking statement after it was made, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law or regulation. Investors are referred to the full
discussion of risks and uncertainties associated with
forward-looking statements and the discussion of risk factors
contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are
available at www.sec.gov.
Company Contact:Jason AssadDirector of
Corporate Communications assad@terawulf.com(678) 570-6791
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