- Metaplanet issues $135M in preferred shares to scale its Bitcoin treasury strategy.
- Saylor defends Bitcoin treasury models despite volatility and possible index exclusions.
- Treasury firms face premium compression as adoption slows and valuations slip below reserves.
Tokyo-listed Metaplanet has approved a ¥21.25 billion ($135 million) perpetual preferred share issuance as part of its ongoing effort to scale its Bitcoin-focused corporate treasury strategy, even as sector volatility intensifies.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of publicly traded firms with digital asset-heavy balance sheets and follows renewed defence of such strategies by Strategy founder Michael Saylor.
Metaplanet raises capital through perpetual preferred shares
The Japanese company’s board approved the issuance of 23.61 million Class B preferred shares on November 20 through a third-party allotment to overseas institutional investors.
Net proceeds are estimated at ¥20.41 billion ($130 million) after expenses, with payments scheduled for December 29, pending shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting on December 22.
The preferred shares—branded “MERCURY” (Metaplanet Convertible for Return & Yield)—carry a 4.9% fixed dividend and a conversion price of ¥1,000 per share.
Each preferred share entitles holders to annual dividends of ¥12.25 ($0.08), distributed quarterly, although the initial period ending December 31 will pay only ¥0.40 ($0.003) per share.
With the conversion price set well above Metaplanet’s November 19 closing price of ¥375 ($2.40), near-term dilution concerns remain limited.
Representative Director Simon Gerovich said the structure is designed to “minimize dilution from common share issuances while continuing to expand BTC holdings,” calling the offering a significant step in scaling Metaplanet’s Bitcoin treasury strategy.
Despite trading below the value of its Bitcoin reserves, Metaplanet has continued to build its digital asset position and recently deployed a ¥75 billion share repurchase program backed by a $500 million credit facility.
Saylor reaffirms commitment to Bitcoin treasury model
Meanwhile, Strategy founder and executive chairman Michael Saylor dismissed concerns about market turbulence during a November 14 CNBC interview.
He said Strategy “can withstand an 80%–90% drawdown and keep operating,” citing minimal leverage of just 1.15 times and long-dated debt maturities of 4.5 years.
Saylor argued that Bitcoin’s historical performance—averaging 50% annual returns over the past five years despite multiple major drawdowns—supports its role as a corporate treasury asset.
He highlighted that Strategy’s five-year performance of 71% outpaced Nvidia, asserting that no S&P 500 company has matched its returns.
However, Strategy faces potential removal from the MSCI USA and Nasdaq 100 indexes after index providers proposed excluding companies whose digital asset holdings exceed 50% of total assets.
JPMorgan estimates that MSCI exclusion alone could trigger up to $2.8 billion in passive outflows, with decisions expected by January 15.
Strategy’s stock has dropped more than 60% from its November 2024 peak but remains up over 1,300% since it began acquiring Bitcoin in August 2020.
Bitcoin treasury firms navigate premium compression
The broader Bitcoin treasury sector has entered what Coinbase Research describes as a “player-versus-player” environment.
Premiums to net asset value have compressed from 3.76 times in April to 2.8 times, while corporate Bitcoin adoption has fallen 95% since July.
Of 168 listed treasury companies, 26 now trade below the value of their digital assets.
Metaplanet was the first major firm to consistently trade below its reserves, a trend that accelerated its capital restructuring efforts.
The company plans to cap preferred share issuance at 25% of its Bitcoin net asset value, aiming to build credibility in the preferred equity market while expanding its treasury.
Strategy continues to accumulate aggressively, purchasing 8,178 Bitcoin this week at an average price of $102,171, raising its holdings to 649,870 BTC.
Saylor maintains Bitcoin will continue to outperform traditional assets, describing it as “digital capital” suited for long-term investors.