The proposed acquisition leverages Oklo’s fact
reactor and fuel recycling technologies to integrate radioisotope
production to support critical needs in cancer treatment,
diagnostic imaging, and clean energy applications.
Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) (“Oklo”), an advanced nuclear technology
company, today announced it has signed a letter of intent to
acquire Atomic Alchemy Inc. (“Atomic Alchemy”), a U.S.-based
company specializing in the production of radioisotopes. Oklo’s
fast reactor and fuel recycling technologies produce valuable
coproducts, such as radioisotopes, through their respective
processes. The proposed acquisition builds upon the strategic
partnership announced between Oklo and Atomic Alchemy earlier this
year, demonstrating the opportunity to combine Oklo’s power
generation and fuel recycling capabilities with Atomic Alchemy’s
radioisotope production expertise to accelerate fuel production for
Oklo’s powerhouses, and to create new revenue streams from
radioisotopes.
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Atomic Alchemy's Radioisotope Production
Facility (Image: Hillside Architecture)
Radioisotopes are essential for applications across healthcare,
energy, industry, and technology and are expected to represent a
$55.7 billion market opportunity by 2026, according to Research
Nester, with demand expected to increase significantly over the
next decade. According to the British Institute of Radiology, as
the need for radioisotopes continues to rise, supply has struggled
to keep pace due to aging reactor infrastructure and a fragmented
global supply chain, which at present is dominated by Russia. Oklo
aims to address this gap through reliable, U.S.-based radioisotope
production facilities that leverage its core clean energy and fuel
recycling technologies.
“The proposed acquisition is expected to enable Oklo to
significantly broaden its impact, as our fast reactor and fuel
recycling technologies allow us to produce radioisotopes as a
coproduct,” said Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo. “By
incorporating radioisotope production into our fuel recycling
process, Oklo is establishing a complementary revenue stream and
contributing to a more resilient radioisotope supply chain.”
Atomic Alchemy’s technologies also include capabilities to
perform Neutron Transmutation Doping of silicon, or "NTD." NTD is
considered a “gold-standard” process that utilizes the neutrons
produced in a nuclear reactor to convert some of the silicon atoms
into phosphorus via nuclear transmutation. We believe NTD offers a
superior method for semiconductor doping because an entire ingot
can be doped prior to wafering; the dopant is distributed uniformly
throughout the ingot; large volumes of semiconductor material can
be irradiated in batches; the process can be used on more than one
type of semiconductor; and NTD allows for fine-tuning the amount of
dopant added. Given the current high level of demand for
state-of-the-art semiconductors, we believe NTD capabilities may be
transformative to the semiconductor industry.
Sam Altman, Chairman and Board Member of Oklo, commented on the
proposed acquisition: “I deeply believe in the importance of
abundance and reliable energy for the future, and Oklo’s proposed
acquisition of Atomic Alchemy opens the door for nuclear technology
to play an even greater role in solving critical energy, medical,
and industrial challenges.”
Key highlights of the proposed acquisition:
- Leveraging Complementary Technology to Scale and Accelerate
Fuel Availability: Radioisotopes can enhance the economics of
nuclear fuel recycling and accelerate fuel availability for Oklo’s
powerhouses through the sales of high-value radioisotopes.
- Expanding into an Attractive Market: This proposed
acquisition diversifies Oklo’s business and market reach into new
sectors such as biotech, pharmaceuticals, space, defense, and
semiconductors.
- Establishing Domestic Radioisotope Production: Oklo and
Atomic Alchemy intend to develop specialized radioisotope
production capabilities with Oklo’s fast reactor technologies and
Atomic Alchemy’s versatile irradiation reactor technologies to
address urgent supply shortages in life-saving medical
radioisotopes and advanced industrial applications.
- Accelerating and Diversifying Oklo’s Revenue Streams:
Oklo expects to begin generating revenue from radioisotope
production following the proposed acquisition, with initial
revenues anticipated prior to completing the first radioisotope
production reactors. This potential additional revenue stream is
expected to diversify Oklo’s income sources.
Oklo proposes to acquire Atomic Alchemy for $25 million in an
all-stock transaction (subject to customer adjustments). All Oklo
shares issued to existing shareholders of Atomic Alchemy in
connection with the transaction are expected to be subject to
multi-year lock-ups. Upon closing, the proposed transaction is
expected to have minimal immediate impact on Oklo’s operating cost
structure, and the proposed transaction is not expected to impact
Oklo’s previously announced 2024 outlook.
With this proposed acquisition, Oklo intends to reinforce its
position as a leader in advanced nuclear technology, combining
energy production and critical material supplies into a unified,
high-value creation approach.
About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission
power plants to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy at
scale. Oklo received a site use permit from the U.S. Department of
Energy, was awarded fuel material from Idaho National Laboratory,
submitted the first advanced fission custom combined license
application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and is
developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration
with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National
Laboratories.
About Atomic Alchemy Inc.: Atomic Alchemy Inc. is
pioneering a resilient U.S.-based radioisotope supply chain to meet
essential demands across healthcare, industry, research, and
defense. With its proprietary Versatile Isotope Production Reactor
(VIPR®) technology, Atomic Alchemy is building the first scalable
production facility to provide a reliable, sustainable source of
high-value radioisotopes. Using a vertically integrated model and
fuel recycling, in partnership with Oklo, Atomic Alchemy is
transforming isotope production to address global shortages,
support critical applications, and strengthen national
security.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that express Oklo’s
opinions, expectations, objectives, beliefs, plans, intentions,
strategies, assumptions, forecasts or projections regarding future
events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be,
“forward-looking statements.” The words “anticipate,” “believe,”
“continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,”
“might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,”
“should,” “would” or, in each case, their negative or other
variations or comparable terminology, and similar expressions may
identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words
does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These
forward-looking statements include all matters that are not
historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this
press release and include statements regarding our intentions,
beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the
benefits of the proposed acquisition, results of operations,
financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and
the markets in which Oklo operates. Such forward-looking statements
are based on information available as of the date of this press
release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and
involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties.
As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, the actual results or performance of Oklo may be
materially different from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. The following important risk factors
could affect Oklo’s future results and cause those results or other
outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in
the forward-looking statements: risks related to the deployment of
Oklo’s powerhouses; the risk that Oklo is pursuing an emerging
market, with no commercial project operating, regulatory
uncertainties; the potential need for financing to construct
plants, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the
effects of competition; the risk that an agreement with Atomic
Alchemy and the proposed acquisition thereof do not materialize or
fail to produce the expected benefits; changes in applicable laws
or regulations; and the outcome of any government and regulatory
proceedings and investigations and inquiries.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should
carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and
uncertainties of the other documents filed by Oklo from time to
time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The
forward-looking statements contained in this press release and in
any document incorporated by reference are based on current
expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their
potential effects on Oklo. There can be no assurance that future
developments affecting Oklo will be those that Oklo has
anticipated. Oklo undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as may be required under
applicable securities laws.
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Media and Investor Contact for Oklo: Bonita Chester, Head
of Communications and Media at media@oklo.com
Investor Contact: Sam Doane, Director of Investor
Relations at investors@oklo.com
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