Kraken will raise US$1bil in equity from new and existing shareholders, paving the way for a formal separation from Octopus in the middle of next year, Origin said. — Bloomberg
LONDON: Origin Energy Ltd says Kraken Technologies Ltd, which helps utilities manage the transition to cleaner energy, has been valued at US$8.65bil after the software platform’s first share sale.
Kraken is owned by Octopus Energy Group Ltd, in which Origin is a major investor. The artificial intelligence (AI) software has been key to Octopus’s growth into the United Kingdom’s largest electricity supplier, leapfrogging industry incumbents to serve more than seven million customers in the country.
Kraken will raise US$1bil in equity from new and existing shareholders, paving the way for a formal separation from Octopus in the middle of next year, Origin said.
The Sydney-listed company’s shares rose as much as 1% yesterday.
“Origin has always held a deep conviction in the potential of Kraken,” Origin chief executive officer Frank Calabria said.
D1 Capital Partners will become one of the new investors in Kraken, Origin said, along with an unidentified “leading energy retailer” with more than 10 million clients that will also become a customer of the software platform. — Bloomberg
