Riot Announces that Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal Has Terminated Bitfarms’ Poison Pill
Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT) (“Riot”) today announced that it was successful in its application to the Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) to cease trade the June 10, 2024 shareholder rights plan (the “Poison Pill”) implemented by the Board of Directors of Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ/TSX: BITF) (“Bitfarms”) (the “Bitfarms Board”). The cease trade order terminates Bitfarms’ Poison Pill – which contemplated a 15% trigger – effective immediately.
Jason Les, Chief Executive Officer of Riot, stated:
“This ruling from the Tribunal in favor of Riot’s application is a win for all Bitfarms shareholders. The adoption of the off-market Poison Pill is yet another example of the broken corporate governance that plagues Bitfarms and of the ongoing attempts by the Bitfarms directors to entrench themselves. We appreciate that the Tribunal acted quickly and decisively to remove the Poison Pill.
We continue to believe that our three director nominees – John Delaney, Amy Freedman and Ralph Goehring (the “Nominees”) – must be elected to the Bitfarms Board at the 2024 Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) scheduled for October 29, 2024 in order to repair Bitfarms’ poor corporate governance. These Nominees are fully independent of Riot and Bitfarms, are highly qualified and will bring much-needed fresh perspectives into the boardroom. We look forward to communicating further with shareholders in the coming weeks and months.”
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About Riot Platforms, Inc.
Riot’s (NASDAQ: RIOT) vision is to be the world’s leading Bitcoin-driven infrastructure platform. Our mission is to positively impact the sectors, networks and communities that we touch. We believe that the combination of an innovative spirit and strong community partnership allows Riot to achieve best-in-class execution and create successful outcomes.
Riot, a Nevada corporation, is a Bitcoin mining and digital infrastructure company focused on a vertically integrated strategy. Riot has Bitcoin mining operations in central Texas and electrical switchgear engineering and fabrication operations in Denver, Colorado.
For more information, visit www.riotplatforms.com.
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Statements contained herein that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” (together, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities laws that reflect management’s current expectations, assumptions, and estimates of future events, performance and economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements rely on the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the safe harbor provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “combined company,” “create,” “drive,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “growth,” “intend,” “hope,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “potential,” “proposal,” “synergies,” “unlock,” “upside,” “will,” “would,” and similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: uncertainties as to whether Bitfarms will enter into discussions with Riot regarding a proposed combination of Riot and Bitfarms; the outcome of any such discussions, including the terms and conditions of any such potential combination; the future performance, liquidity and financial position of the combined company, and its ability to achieve expected synergies; and uncertainties as to timing of the Special Meeting or the outcome. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or actual results, and readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement as actual results may differ materially and adversely from forward-looking statements. Detailed information regarding the factors identified by the management of Riot, which they believe may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements in this press release, may be found in Riot’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” of Riot’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024, and the other filings Riot has made or will make with the SEC after such date, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof, and Riot disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur, or of which Riot hereafter becomes aware, except as required by applicable law.