The Aquanaut underwater robotic is designed to handle aquaculture initiatives, restore oil pipelines, and scan seabeds. | Supply: Nauticus Robotics
Nauticus Robotics Inc. at this time introduced it secured a $250 million fairness line of credit score to speed up its subsequent section of progress and innovation. The subsea robotics developer mentioned the credit score line will allow it to develop into deep-sea uncommon earth and mineral exploration.
The Webster, Texas-based firm mentioned the power will allow it to pursue strategic acquisitions that increase its technological capabilities. Nauticus mentioned this new initiative is a part of its broader technique to make use of its applied sciences in industries important to the worldwide power transition.
“Entry to uncommon earth minerals is important for the clear power, electronics, and protection industries, and Nauticus is uniquely positioned to play a key function in enabling that offer chain,” mentioned John Gibson, president and CEO of Nauticus Robotics. “The $250 million fairness facility supplies us with the strategic and monetary flexibility to accumulate the fitting capabilities and partnerships to take part responsibly on this necessary rising market.”
Nauticus secured $12 million in a second tranche of funding final 12 months. The corporate mentioned that it deliberate to make use of that funding to expedite the commercialization of Aquanaut.
Aquanaut can function autonomously, or customers can remotely management the system, relying on the client’s wants at any given second. It could actually additionally carry out quite a lot of underwater duties, reminiscent of managing aquaculture initiatives, repairing oil pipelines, and scanning seabeds.
Nauticus plans for strategic acquisitions
Nauticus Robotics mentioned it intends to determine and purchase companies and applied sciences that complement its autonomous methods portfolio. It asserted that they’ll assist the accountable exploration of uncommon earth components and different important minerals present in ultra-deep-water environments.
Strategic highlights of the financing embrace:
- $250 million fairness line of credit score facility to fund acquisitions and progress initiatives
- Launch of a deep-sea uncommon earth and mineral exploration technique by means of focused acquisitions
- Concentrate on sustainable innovation and environmental stewardship in subsea useful resource growth
- Builds on current milestones, together with the March acquisition of SeaTrepid Worldwide, increasing Nauticus’ subsea service and remotely operated automobile (ROV) capabilities
Nauticus mentioned it would updates on potential acquisition targets and strategic partnerships because it advances. The corporate mentioned this aligns with the Trump administration’s priorities on securing strategic minerals to cut back reliance on worldwide producers.
Yesterday, negotiators from the U.S. and China met to create a framework for a deal to pause American tariffs and Chinese language rare-earths export controls, based on Reuters. The deal would put much less strain on American firms to search out methods to reap these uncommon minerals.
Firm plans to transform debt to fairness
Nauticus additionally introduced at this time that it has agreed with present debt holders to transform $3.7 million of debt into frequent fairness. The firm mentioned this conversion will permit it to considerably de-leverage its steadiness sheet.
If required, present debt holders have agreed to alternate excellent debt into most popular fairness with the intention of bringing the corporate into compliance with Nasdaq de-listing issues.
