MLGO Secures $32.2M Cash via Deep-Discount Note From Parent WiMi
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
MicroAlgo Inc. (MLGO) filed a Form 6-K disclosing that on 20 June 2025 it issued an unsecured, 0% coupon, 360-day $35 million convertible promissory note to its parent company, WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. The note carries an 8% original-issue discount, so the cash proceeds to MicroAlgo amount to $32.2 million.
Conversion mechanics: The holder may convert at any time at a price equal to 40% of the lowest closing price of MLGO’s Class A shares in the 60 trading days prior to conversion—a 60% discount. A concurrent 10-year lock-up restricts any sale or transfer of conversion shares, subject to limited exceptions.
Implications for investors:
- The deep, floating discount makes the instrument highly dilutive if exercised, especially if the share price weakens, because the share count issued on conversion rises as the market price falls.
- The note is a related-party transaction; terms overwhelmingly favor the parent, creating potential conflicts with minority shareholders.
- Although the structure delivers immediate liquidity without interest expense and defers any cash repayment for one year, the aggressive discount plus 8% OID represents a meaningful economic cost and could exert persistent downward pressure on the equity.
The filing attaches the Purchase Agreement, Convertible Note, and Lock-Up Agreement as Exhibits 99.1-99.3 and cautions that the summary is qualified in its entirety by the full documents.
Positive
- $32.2 million in immediate, interest-free liquidity strengthens short-term cash position.
- A 10-year lock-up limits near-term secondary selling pressure from converted shares.
Negative
- 60% floating discount conversion price can trigger substantial, unpredictable dilution.
- Related-party nature introduces significant conflicts of interest and weak governance oversight.
- Only 12-month maturity; if not converted, $35 million must be repaid in cash, creating refinancing risk.
- 8% original-issue discount imposes an immediate economic cost despite zero coupon.
Insights
TL;DR: Related-party $35 M note provides cash but embeds extreme 60% discounted convert, posing major dilution risk.
The financing injects $32.2 M of 0% debt, boosting short-term liquidity without interest burden. However, the 60% floating discount effectively places a perpetual at-the-money short on MLGO’s stock. If shares trade lower, conversion share count rises, increasing supply and price pressure—a classic death-spiral structure. The one-year maturity also compresses the timeline: absent conversion, the principal must be repaid in cash within 12 months, potentially straining resources. Net impact skews negative because dilution risk outweighs the temporary liquidity benefit.
TL;DR: Highly favorable terms to parent highlight governance conflicts; minority holders face misaligned incentives.
This is a material related-party deal executed without evidence of an independent fairness review. The parent enjoys discounted entry, 10-year lock-up that preserves control, and no interest cost, while minority shareholders absorb dilution. Such conflict-laden structures typically attract regulatory and shareholder scrutiny. Lack of board safeguards or mention of independent directors amplifies governance risk, making the disclosure negative from a stewardship perspective.