Did Desjardin just Release the Kraken? - Kraken Robotics Investment and Business Report (June 2025)
Kraken Robotics’ recent momentum as a growing business and investment opportunity, now including these strategic dimensions:
๐ฐ 1. C$100 Million Bought-Deal Financing
- 
What’s new: Kraken announced a bought‑deal public offering in June 2025—raising roughly C$100 million with a 15% over-allotment. 
- 
Why it’s positive: - 
Bolsters liquidity, enabling aggressive expansions or debt reduction. 
- 
Supports continued investment in acquisitions and manufacturing scale-up. 
 
- 
๐งช 2. Acquisition of 3D at Depth (Closed April 2025)
- 
What happened: Kraken acquired U.S.-based LiDAR specialist 3D at Depth for US$17 million in cash money.tmx.com+11krakenrobotics.com+11jpt.spe.org+11. 
- 
Strategic plus: - 
U.S. presence: Adds offices in Texas and Colorado, strengthening Kraken’s position amid trade tensions weareaquaculture.com+4krakenrobotics.com+4jpt.spe.org+4. 
- 
Market diversification: Begins direct manufacturing and sales in a politically critical region. 
- 
Technical synergy: Enhances SeaVision with deep-water (>300 m) laser capabilities; 3D at Depth recently completed its 1,000th project krakenrobotics.com+8krakenrobotics.com+8jpt.spe.org+8. 
 
- 
๐ญ 3. Nova Scotia Subsea Battery Facility
- 
What happened: Plans for a high-energy SeaPower™ battery plant in Halifax slated for late 2025 krakenrobotics.com+2krakenrobotics.com+2krakenrobotics.com+2. 
- 
Why it matters: - 
Strategic location: Halifax—Canada East Coast Navy HQ and major NATO port—offers logistical and defense synergies. 
- 
Defense reach: Perfect staging for contracts, including those with NATO navies. Infrastructure and proven naval partnerships are already in place. 
 
- 
๐ 4. Robust Q1 2025 Results & Backlog
- 
What happened: Q1 revenue was C$16.1 M with 62.7% gross margin, C$58 M in cash (up sharply YOY), and C$94.6 M in working capital. 
- 
Why it’s positive: - 
Confirms improved profitability, operational efficiency, and a strong cushion for growth. 
 
- 
๐งญ 5. Growing Bookings & Service Expansion
- 
What happened: Since Q4 2024, Kraken received ~$45 M in subsea battery orders and ~$3 M in sonar bookings. 
 
- 
Why it matters: - 
Reflects sustained demand in defense and offshore energy sectors. 
- 
Validates product-market fit across diverse offerings. 
 
- 
๐ฏ 6. Defense & NATO Engagement
- 
What happened: Ongoing contracts include $50 M+ for Royal Canadian Navy mine hunting systems in Halifax and past contracts with NATO navies (Australia and UK). 
 
- 
Why it’s important: - 
Halifax facility aligns geographically with Kraken’s East Coast naval customers. 
- 
Strengthens NATO interoperability and trust amid global naval tensions. 
 
- 
✅ 7. Comprehensive Subsea Ecosystem & Diversification
- 
What’s evolving: Kraken now offers sonar (KATFISH™), LiDAR (SeaVision + 3D at Depth), subsea batteries (SeaPower™), and RaaS. 
 
- Pipeline inspection through Kraken Seapower
- 
Why it’s smart: - 
Reduced reliance on a single revenue stream. 
- 
Offers integrated solutions for underwater defense and infrastructure clients. 
 
- 
๐ Summary Table
| Strength | Details | 
|---|---|
| Financial Power | C$100M financing + C$58M cash = strong investment capability | 
| North American Reach | U.S. operations via 3D at Depth + Halifax manufacturing | 
| Defense Ecosystem | Halifax ties to RCN and NATO; major contracts secured | 
| Tech Portfolio | Integrated sensors + power + service delivery | 
| Proven Demand | Order backlog and major contracts affirm market traction | 
๐ฏ Why This Update Matters for Investors
- 
Global Expansion: A U.S. footprint hedges geopolitical trade risks, unlocking access to American contracts. 
- 
Strategic NATO Positioning: Halifax location and facility align with allied naval operations, reinforcing defense supply chain credentials. 
- 
Integrated Tech Stance: Offers deep-tech defense clients everything from data to power, buoyed by recurring service demand. 
- 
Financial Firepower: Strong capital reserves enable execution of strategy without dilution or debt stress. 
In combining financial strength, geographic diversification (Canada + U.S.), purpose-built naval infrastructure, and a full-stack subsea solution, Kraken Robotics has elevated its status to more than a sensor company—it’s now a strategically aligned defense-tech enabler with actual commercial momentum. These developments make it a more compelling long-term investment.
Here’s a deeper look into Kraken Robotics (PNG/KRKNF) covering contract timelines, valuation considerations, and the competitive landscape:
๐ Contract Timelines & Execution
- 
Royal Canadian Navy Remote Mine hunting & Disposal System (RMDS) - 
Awarded: December 2022, with formal kickoff in January 2023. 
- 
Acquisition phase: 24 months, through end-2024, followed by a 5‑year integrated logistics support (ILS) program ($40 M acquisition + $10 M ILS) . 
- 
Operational readiness: RMDS installations expected fully operational in 2025 . 
 
- 
- 
KATFISH Sonar System for Royal Danish Navy - 
Integration began in 2023, achieving full operational capability in early 2024. 
- 
Sustenance contract spans 7 years with potential extensions up to 21 years . 
 
- 
- 
NATO Vessels Upgrade Contract - 
Roughly US $9 M follow-on deal secured in late 2022 for additional KATFISH units, tentacle winches, and autonomous launch-recovery systems (ALARS) . 
 
 
- 
๐ Valuation Snapshot & Market Outlook
- 
Analyst price targets: Average 12% upside to CA $3.40 (range CA $3.28–$3.68) over the next 12 months . 
- 
Intrinsic value vs market price: - 
Simply Wall St: Fair value ~CA $3.28, placing current price ~7% below fair value . 
 
- 
- 
Key metrics: - 
Trailing P/E around 38× (Yahoo Finance), forward P/E not yet meaningful . 
- 
P/E ~42× vs industry avg. ~31× (Simply Wall St) . 
- 
EV/EBITDA ~28× vs sector avg. ~18× . 
 
- 
- 
Growth: Earnings projected ~8% annually; last year saw ~136% growth . 
๐ Competitive Positioning
Strengths:
- 
Integrated solution platform: Combines advanced sonar (KATFISH™, AquaPix™), subsea LiDAR (SeaVision + 3D at Depth), batteries (SeaPower™), AUVs, and RaaS—enhancing defensibility. 
- 
Long-term contracts: - 
Danish results show FOC achieved and a multi-year sustainment contract . 
- 
Canadian RMDS creates 7+ years of recurring revenue . 
 
- 
- 
Global adoption: 
- Deployed across the U.S., U.K., Australia, Denmark, Poland—plus mounting interest from NATO . 
Risks:
- 
High valuation relative to peers: Premium multiples imply investor expectations for continued growth. 
- 
Execution risk: Meeting ambitious contract delivery timelines across multiple large-scale programs. 
- 
Geopolitical dependency: Much revenue tied to defense budgets, which can be cyclical. 
๐งญ Investment Implications
| Metric | Insight | 
|---|---|
| Cash flow & margins | Large multi-year contracts with sustainment provide stable, predictable revenue. | 
| Geographic diversification | U.S. and NATO footprint hedges trade/tension risks; Halifax location aligns with naval operations. | 
| Valuation debate | Disagreement between growth-based models (Simply Wall St) and DCF-based (Alpha Spread); current price sits between fair-value estimates. | 
| Catalysts | 
- 
RMDS ramp in 2025 
- 
Further U.S./EU contracts via 3D at Depth presence 
- 
Continued deployment of KATFISH on NATO-MCM vessels | 
Conclusion: Kraken’s strategic positioning, recurring revenue pipelines, and expanding global engagement present a compelling growth narrative. However, execution reliability and valuation premiums warrant careful monitoring—especially given its ~40× P/E.
Here’s a refined look at how NATO’s new 5% GDP defense‑spending pledge bolsters Kraken Robotics’ strategic positioning—and why it matters:
๐ NATO’s 5% Defense Commitment
- 
At the June 2025 Hague Summit, NATO members agreed to raise combined defense and defense‑related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, defining 3.5% for core military expenditures (troops, weapons, ops) and up to 1.5% for resilience, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and industrial base ft.com+7sipri.org+7apnews.com+7usglobaletfs.com+9reuters.com+9en.wikipedia.org+9. 
- 
While Spain received an exception, most members—including Canada and Eastern European nations—endorsed the target en.wikipedia.org+1atlanticcouncil.org+1. 
๐ฃ What This Means for Kraken Robotics
- 
Boost in Core Defence Procurement - 
With NATO countries winding up core defense budgets, there's greater emphasis and funding available for equipment like sonar systems (e.g. KATFISH™), underwater LiDAR, power systems, and autonomous platforms—all in Kraken’s portfolio. 
 
- 
- 
Infrastructure Spending Tailwinds - 
The additional 1.5% of GDP aimed at dual-use infrastructure—ports, bridges, cyber, and shipyards—aligns perfectly with Kraken’s Halifax battery plant and its sensor systems used for marine infrastructure monitoring and readiness. 
 
- 
- 
Special Defense Focus on Canada & Allies - 
Canada (currently ~1.3% GDP on defense) is expected to scale up significantly. Kraken’s Halifax facility—on the East Coast naval hub at a major NATO port—is primed to capture more contracts as defense budgets grow. 
 
- 
- 
Leverage European/NATO Industrial Expansion - 
As NATO boosts its defense-industrial base under this plan, Kraken stands to benefit from increased R&D and procurement contracts across the alliance, particularly in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. 
 
- 
๐ Strategic & Investment Implications for Kraken
| Axis | Positive Impact | 
|---|---|
| Revenue Growth | Larger NATO defense budgets widen pipeline opportunities for sonar, LiDAR, batteries, AUV deployments, and sustainment contracts. | 
| Geographic & Industrial Push | Kraken's U.S. and Canadian build-out is well‑aligned with NATO’s spending surge, increasing its positioning as a key supplier. | 
| Valuation Upside | Given Kraken’s high multiples (P/E ~40×), securing new, credible NATO contracts supports earnings growth and validates premium valuation. | 
| Execution Risk | While budget increases help, Kraken must still deliver projects on-time and scale its capabilities to meet heightened demand. | 
๐งญ Bottom Line
NATO’s 5% GDP commitment is a paradigm shift in defense spending—a ramp-up that directly plays to Kraken Robotics’ strengths:
- 
Its full-stack subsea offerings — sonar, LiDAR, batteries, AUV deployment — become increasingly relevant. 
- 
Its Halifax and U.S. footprint aligns with infrastructure investments and defense-alliances. 
- 
With large-scale defense budgets unlocking in the coming decade, Kraken is uniquely positioned to capitalize. 
Related NATO defense‑spending news





 
