Bitfarms implements fresh poison pill strategy to fend off Riot Platforms takeover bid

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Bitfarms has introduced a caller shareholder rights program — a alleged poison pill strategy — to thwart Riot Platforms’ takeover attempt, according to a July 24 statement.

The miner intends to contented caller shares to dilute stakes if immoderate entity, including Riot Platforms, acquires implicit 20% of its shares wrong the adjacent six months. The determination inactive requires shareholder ratification and support from the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The firm’s committee of directors unanimously approved the program connected July 24, aft the Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal ordered the steadfast to extremity its initial poison pill strategy, which was implemented successful June.

In June, Bitfarms adopted a poison pill strategy that would pb to the issuance of caller shares if an entity acquired much than 15% of its shares.

However, Riot — which has purchased 14.9% of Bitfarms’ shares — challenged the poison pill program astatine the Ontario tribunal and won a ruling successful its favor.

Riot CEO Jason Les welcomed the decision, saying:

“The adoption of the off-market Poison Pill is yet different illustration of the breached firm governance that plagues Bitfarms and of the ongoing attempts by the Bitfarms directors to entrench themselves. We admit that the Tribunal acted rapidly and decisively to region the Poison Pill.”

Riot has besides called a shareholder meeting to region Bitfarms’ laminitis from the board.

Shareholders protection

According to Bitfarms, the caller shareholder rights program aims to guarantee just attraction of shareholders successful immoderate aboriginal acquisition attempts. The steadfast added that the program besides protects against “creeping bids” — a concern wherever an entity accumulates a important involvement successful its shares without a ceremonial takeover bid.

Bitfarms further emphasized that the caller program is not a absorption to immoderate circumstantial acquisition connection but seeks to guarantee just and adjacent attraction for each shareholders.

The improvement marks the latest successful the ongoing takeover play betwixt Riot and Bitfarms. In May, Bitfarms rejected Riot’s $950 million acquisition bid and has since bolstered its committee with the assignment of Fanny Philip and the elevation of Ben Gagnon to the CEO position.

The station Bitfarms implements caller poison pill strategy to fend disconnected Riot Platforms takeover bid appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.

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