SHANGHAI - Cango Inc . (NYSE:CANG), an established automotive transaction service platform in China, has announced its foray into the cryptocurrency sector by agreeing to purchase a fleet of on-rack crypto mining machines worth approximately $400 million. The acquisition involves an aggregate hashrate of 50 Exahash per second (EH), with a significant portion of the purchase, 32EH for $256 million, being in cash from Bitmain Technologies Georgia Limited and Bitmain Development Limited, collectively known as Bitmain. The remainder of the mining machines, with an 18EH hashrate, will be acquired from Golden TechGen Limited and other sellers in exchange for approximately 145.7 million Class A ordinary shares of Cango, valued at $144 million.
Post-transaction, Golden TechGen Limited, owned by Bitmain's ex-CFO Mr. Max Hua, is expected to hold no more than a 20% share in Cango, while all sellers combined will own roughly 37.8% of Cango's total outstanding shares before any exercise of the warrants described in the agreement. Additionally, Mr. Hua will have the right to appoint two directors to Cango's board until his stake drops below 5%. Should the company's market capitalization hit $1.825 billion within 30 months post-closing, additional shares will be issued to the sellers as a bonus.
The completion of the cash-settled transaction depends on customary closing conditions, including U.S. anti-trust clearance. Similarly, the share-settled transactions are contingent on the satisfactory performance of the mining machines and the NYSE's approval of Cango's supplemental listing application. The transactions are expected to close by March 31, 2025, but there is no certainty they will be completed by that date or at all. If the cash transaction falls through, a $25.6 million deposit paid to Bitmain will be forfeited.
The mining machines currently in operation are hosted in data centers across various countries, with the majority in the U.S. Cango plans to continue hosting the machines at their existing locations and engage Bitmain affiliates for operational and maintenance services post-acquisition.
This strategic move is part of Cango's broader plan to diversify and expand its revenue streams. The company will continue to invest in and grow its automotive business, particularly in the used car sector, while expecting crypto mining to become a significant revenue contributor.
The information in this article is based on a press release statement.
In other recent news, Cango Inc. disclosed its financial results for Q3 2024, showcasing a robust performance with total revenue reaching RMB 26.95 million and net profit standing at RMB 67.88 million. The company attributed these favorable results to effective cost control and risk management strategies. Furthermore, Cango Inc. maintained a low nonperforming loan ratio with an outstanding loan balance of approximately RMB 4.8 billion, while its cash and cash equivalents increased to RMB 3.8 billion.
On the operational front, the company's U-Car app and AutoCango.com saw significant growth in user engagement. Looking ahead, Cango Inc. provided a forecast for Q4 2024 revenue, expected to range between RMB 15 million and RMB 17.5 million. In terms of future plans, the company is focusing on expanding AutoCango.com into international markets and enhancing its features.
These are recent developments for Cango Inc., which continues to implement stringent cost control and risk management strategies to improve its operational efficiency and financial structure.
InvestingPro Insights
Cango Inc.'s bold move into cryptocurrency mining aligns with several key financial indicators and trends highlighted by InvestingPro. The company's strong financial position, as evidenced by its cash reserves exceeding debt, provides a solid foundation for this significant $400 million investment in mining equipment.
InvestingPro data shows that Cango's market capitalization stands at $295.35 million, with the stock trading near its 52-week high. This positive market sentiment is reflected in the company's impressive price performance, with a 146.09% return over the past year and a substantial 177.45% year-to-date return.
The decision to diversify into crypto mining comes at a time when Cango's revenue has seen a significant decline, with a -87.05% revenue growth in the last twelve months. However, the company maintains profitability, boasting a gross profit margin of 116.97% and an operating income margin of 25.88% for the same period.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that Cango is trading at a low P/E ratio relative to its near-term earnings growth, with a current P/E ratio of 16.24. This could indicate that the market has not fully priced in the potential impact of the new crypto mining venture on the company's future earnings.
It's worth noting that Cango does not currently pay a dividend to shareholders, which may allow the company to reinvest more capital into growth initiatives like this crypto mining expansion. The stock's high volatility, as mentioned in the InvestingPro Tips, aligns with the dynamic nature of both the automotive and cryptocurrency sectors.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 14 additional tips for Cango Inc., providing deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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