Benzinga | Apr 8, 2021 09:01AM EDT

Riot Blockchain Stock Is Trading Higher On Acquiring Whinstone For $651M In Cash And Stock Deal

* Riot Blockchain Inc (NASDAQ: RIOT) agreed to acquire Whinstone US, Inc, including its assets and operations from Northern Data AG (OTC:NDTAF).

* The purchase price included $80 million cash plus a fixed 11.8 million Riot stock, equivalent to $651 million based on Riot's last closing price of $48.37.

* Whinstone is the owner and operator of North America's major Bitcoin hosting facility, with 300 MW in developed capacity and a long-term power purchase agreement. Whinstone's facility can be expanded by an additional 450 MW.

* The acquisition will diversify Riot's revenues, consolidate Riot's position in the Bitcoin mining and hosting business, and create material financial and operational synergies.

* Northern Data will still own a 12% stake in Riot under the arrangement.

* Riot held $235 million in cash and cryptocurrencies as of Dec. 31, 2020.

* Price action: RIOT shares traded higher by 5.66% at $51.11 in the premarket session on the last check Thursday.