译文/Translated：
领先的HPC应用基础架构和比特币矿机供应商Northern Data AG同意从Block.one手上收购Decentric Europe BV及Decentric的所有GPU硬件。这批GPU硬件包括AMD和英伟达制作的约223,000张显卡，这些显卡被安装在高性能服务器供应商技嘉科技的24,000多个服务器系统中。
Northern Data打算打造一个大规模的项目，为HPC应用构造世界上最大的GPU分布式计算集群，这个项目将在挪威、瑞典、荷兰和德国设立分枝。除了提供包括位置、数据中心、技术设备等基础设施解决方案，这次的硬件收购还代表着Northern Data的战略性资产积累，也就为它现有的高性能服务器做了补充。
本次交易总额由两部分构成：未来12月内以现金形式支付1.95亿欧元和大约1.7亿欧元的新股（230万股）。其中，股份总值通过该公司排除所有认股权之后的注册法定资本的资产增量估计。资本增长额今天获得批准。加上本次交易，Block.one将持有Northern Data大约18.2%的股权。
本次交易之后，Northern Data将能够启动云端HPC应用，这些应用的特点是尽量规模化、实现时间和成本高效、只利用可再生能源，并完全符合德国和挪威的数据主权法案规定。
Northern Data将在2021年第三个季度末完成所有GPU服务器系统的完整安装。扩容集群会马上会实现可部署的1.29 exaflops FP32算力，即7.3哈希率。到2021年Q3末完成安装之后，Northern Data的整体算力会达到2.6 exflops FP 32 （390 petaflops FP64算力），约13.86哈利率。相比起来，世界上最快的超级计算机，日本的富岳，算力是1.07 exaflops FP32。
Northern Data准备为客户战略性HPC应用部署该算力，应用在诸如渲染、人工智能、区块链应用和物联网中。
同时，公司现在还在着力推出更进一步的战略计划，这将会加速HPC业务扩展，未来它可能不单单服务有区块链用例的应用。Northern Data未来前景也很好，因为它还深耕ASIC领域，未来，随着AI ASICS的发展，它也能从HPC分枝的技术进步获得利益。
“收购Block.one整个GPU服务器系统代表了Northern Data的一大飞跃。现在我们手上有所有重要的部件，能够满足HPC领域数据处理能力的巨大的客户需求。我特别自豪的是，整个集群都是利用绿色能源制成的。我们很快还要采取措施，补充价值增值链，提供更多产品，不管是硬件还是HPC应用平台，满足未来的客户的需求。”Northern Data AG创始人和CEO Aroosh Thillainathan说。
Northern Data在完成交易之后会有初始利润，以及相应对的EBITA（税前息前折旧前摊销前利润），这些都会在执行协议的同时生成。2020年年度财报发布的时候，我们还会详细描述2021财年的预期正影响。
Northern Data还打算继续和其它公司协商完成相似的交易，从而内化用来挖矿的硬件设施。这样的收购案也可能在短期内完成，也可以利用现有的2021版法定资本法案进行，这样就不需要股东大会的进一步决议了。和Decentric交易相似，这样的交易一旦成功，也会对公司利润和收入状况产生积极收益。
关于Block.one
Block.one是领先的开源区块链软件EOSIO的开发者，EOSIO为数字开发者提供构建未来高性能区块链基础架构的工具。Block.one致力于通过战略投资配置、引领扶持利用EOSIO技术的商业活动从而提高市场效率、透明度和参与人的合法度。
关于Northern Data
Northern Data AG为HPC领域开发和运行全球基础设施解决方案。其解决方案以客户为核心，它给各个领域的HPC应用提供了基础设施，如比特币挖矿、人工智能、区块链、大数据分析、物联网或渲染。它在国际上很活跃，现在他已经是世界HPC解决方案一个领先的提供者。Northern Data提供的HPC解决方案可以在大型、固定的数据中心，也可以在全世界任何地方都可以设立的移动高科技中心。公司把自主开发软件和智能概念的硬件结合起来，实现可持续能源供应。Northern Data集团目前大约有200名员工。
原文/Original：
Northern Data AG, a leading infrastructure supplier for HPC applications and Bitcoin hBlock.one and will, as a result, acquire all of Decentric’s GPU hardware. This GPU hardware includes approximately 223,000 GPU cards produced by AMD and Nvidia, which are installed in more than 24,000 server systems of GIGABYTE Technology, a vendor of high-performance servers.
The large-scale project launched by Northern Data to build one of the world’s largest GPU-based distributed computing clusters for HPC applications will involve locations in Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany. Apart from the infrastructure solutions, which include locations, data centers and technical equipment, the hardware acquisition represents a strategic asset build-up that complements Northern Data’s existing high-performance servers.
The transaction involves a cash component in the amount of EUR 195 million to be paid within 12 months as well as approximately EUR 170 million in new shares (2.3 million shares) from a capital increase in kind effected through issuance of the Company’s registered authorized capital exclusive of any shareholder subscription rights. The capital increase was approved today. Taking into account this transaction, Block.one will hold an interest of approximately 18.2% in Northern Data.
Thanks to this acquisition the Company will be in a position to market cloud-based HPC applications that feature maximum scalability as well as exceptional time- and cost efficiency and exclusive use of renewable sources of energy plus compliance with the provisions of German and Norwegian data sovereignty legislation.
Northern Data will complete the full installation of all GPU server systems at its sites by the end of the third quarter of 2021. Expansion of the cluster has in the meantime resulted in immediately deployable computing power of 1.29 exaflops FP32 or 7.3 terahashes. Following completion of installation by the end of Q3 2021, computing power for Northern Data as a whole will come to approximately 2.6 exaflops FP32 (390 petaflops FP64) and approximately 13.86 terahashes. By way of example, the world’s fastest supercomputer, Japan’s “Fugaku”, delivers 1.07 FP32 exaflops.
This computing power will be deployed for strategic HPC applications of Northern Data customers such as rendering, artificial intelligence, blockchain applications and the internet of things.
At the same time, the Company is currently working on further strategic steps that will accelerate expansion of HPC business for applications that expand beyond blockchain use cases. Northern Data also has very good prospects for the future because of its in-depth expertise in the ASIC area and is poised to benefit from future progress in technology in the HPC segment as a result of AI ASICS.
“The acquisition of Block.one’s entire portfolio of GPU server systems represents a quantum leap in Northern Data’s corporate story. We thus now have at our disposal all critical components required to cover the enormous customer demand for data-processing capacity in the HPC area. I am particularly proud that the entire cluster is powered exclusively by green energy. We will shortly be taking further steps to complement our offering along the value-added chain in order to be able to meet the needs of tomorrow’s customers by providing everything from hardware to an HPC application platform,” says Aroosh Thillainathan, Founder & CEO of Northern Data AG.
Northern Data will generate initial revenue and a corresponding contribution to EBITDA following completion of the transaction, which took place immediately after the execution of the agreement. The anticipated positiveimpact at the level of the forecast for the 2021 financial year will be described in detail when the annual report for 2020 is published.
Northern Data intends to enter into negotiations with other companies on comparable transactions in order to internalize hardware capacities for mining. Such acquisitions, which could also be concluded in the short term, would also be carried out using the existing Authorized Capital 2021 and would therefore not require any further resolution by the AGM. Analogous to the Decentric transaction, such transactions could have a positive impact on the revenue and earnings situation of Northern Data if successful.
About Block.one:
Block.one is the creator of EOSIO, a leading open-sourced blockchain software that provides digital creators with the tools to build the high performance blockchain infrastructure of tomorrow. Block.one aims to empower creators and communities through strategic capital allocation and pioneers its own business ventures leveraging EOSIO technology to increase market efficiency, transparency, and participant alignment.
About Northern Data:
Northern Data AG develops and operates global infrastructure solutions in the field of High-Performance Computing (HPC). With its customer-specific solutions, the company provides the infrastructure for various HPC applications in areas such as bitcoin mining, artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data analytics, IoT or rendering. The internationally active is today a leading provider of HPC solutions worldwide. Northern Data offers its HPC solutions both in large, stationary data centers and in mobile high-tech data centers that can be set up at any location worldwide. The company combines self-developed software and hardware with intelligent concepts for a sustainable energy supply. The Northern Data group currently employs around 200 people.
原文链接/Original URL:
