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Join us in shaping the future of defence technology.
Our platform offers unique opportunities for investors to be part of groundbreaking advancements in defence. Defence Technologies operates as a strategic platform rather than a point solution provider, combining capital discipline with rapid innovation across multiple defence domains.
A Market Poised for Accelerated Growth
European spend is expanding: EU member-state defence expenditure reached an estimated €326 billion in 2024—more than 30 percent higher than in 2021- and now represents about 1.9 percent of EU GDP and is growing.
UK budgets are rising: The UK Ministry of Defence plans to increase spending from £53.9 billion in FY 2023/24 to £59.8 billion by FY 2025/26.
Technology-driven segments outpace traditional programmes: Europe’s AI-in-aerospace-and-defence market generated US $6.3 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 8.1 percent through 2030, led by advanced hardware and software autonomy.
The European Defence Agency (EDA) has today published its annual Defence Data report for 2023, detailing defence spending from all 27 EU Member States. At a record €279 billion, 2023 European defence spending increased by 10% on the previous year, marking the ninth year of consecutive growth. Twenty-two of the Member States increased defence expenditure, with eleven increasing spending by over 10%.
These tailwinds create a favourable environment for Defence Holding PLC’s strategy of acquiring specialist firms, accelerating in-house R&D and forging strategic partnerships to supply high-priority programmes - from aero-space situational awareness to resilient Headquartered in London, Defence Technologies PLC (formerly Cassel Capital PLC) is a publicly listed company trading under the stock ticker (ALRT) dedicated to delivering high-performance defence and security solutions for the UK and European markets. Leveraging deep capital-markets expertise and a network of technology partners, the company intends to develop and acquire advanced sensors, AI-driven analytics, secure communications and autonomous platforms that enhance the operational advantage of its customers across land, sea, air, space and cyber domains.
Functional Section Under Investor Page (Regulatory Requirements):
Overview: Total issued share capital of the Company is 804,984,029 shares with a nominal value of £0.001 each.” ("Ordinary Shares").
Each Ordinary Share ranks pari passu for voting rights, dividends and return of capital on winding up. Except as disapplied, Shareholders will have preemption rights which will generally apply in respect of future share issues for cash.No pre-emption rights exist in respect of future share issues wholly or partly other than for cash.
Corporate Details
Board of Directors
Brian Stockbridge
Senior Independent Director, has over 20 years’ experience in corporate finance, including direct investments and financing into companies, IPOs, capital raisings and mergers and acquisitions for both public and private companies. He is Chief Executive Officer of First Sentinel Corporate Finance Limited. He has held board positions on several public and private companies throughout his career, most notably with Rangers Football Club and Allegiance Insurance. Brian has also held director and management positions with Zeus Capital, Allenby Capital, Noble & Company and Grant Thornton. He served as a Regulator for the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, where he presided a significant number of transactions, including many valued over £1bn.
Franklin Derek Lew
Non-Executive Chairman, Derek Lew is an active esports investor. Derek is a venture capital investor and is the President and CEO of Growthworks Capital Limited, one of Canada’s leading venture capital firms with over $900M (CAD) invested. He is a partner with Initio Capital Group Inc. a Vancouver BC early stage angel investment firm and a lawyer experienced in the areas of corporate, commercial and real estate law. Derek is the director of the Frank and Joan Lew Charitable Trust and the FJL Housing Society. He is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Alberta.
Corporate Governance
As a company with a Listing in the Transition Category, the Company is not required to comply with the provisions of the Corporate Governance Code published by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC Corporate Governance Code). The Company notes that it will not undertake the following steps required by the FRC Corporate Governance Code in that:
given the size of the Board and the Company’s current status, certain provisions of the FRC Corporate Governance Code (in particular the provisions relating to the composition of the Board and the division of responsibilities between the Chairman and chief executive and executive compensation), are not being complied with by the Company as the Board considers these provisions to be inapplicable to the Company;
the Board has established an audit committee and a remuneration committee comprising at least three non-executive directors. The terms of reference of these committees are as follows:
the Company’s audit committee is comprised of Derek Lew and Brian Stockbridge. The audit committee is to meet at least twice a year to consider the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, including its annual and interim accounts; the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls and risk management systems; auditor reports; and terms of appointment and remuneration for the auditor; and
the Company’s remuneration committee is comprised of Derek Lew and Brian Stockbridge. The remuneration committee is to meet at least twice a year and has as its remit the determination and review of, among others, the remuneration of executives on the Board and any share incentive plans of the Company.
the FRC Corporate Governance Code recommends that the submission of all directors for re-election at annual intervals. None of the Directors will be required to be submitted for re-election until the first annual general meeting of the Company; and
the Board does not comply with the provision of the FRC Corporate Governance Code that at least half of the Board, excluding the Chairman, should comprise non-executive directors determined by the Board to be independent. The Company intends to appoint additional independent non-executive directors in the future so that the Board complies with these provisions.
However, in the interests of observing best practice on corporate governance, the Company intends to comply with the provisions of the Corporate Governance Code published by the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA Corporate Governance Code) insofar as is appropriate having regard to the size and nature of the Company and the size and composition of the Board.
Corporate Information
Registered Address: 72 Charlotte Street, London, England, W1T 4QQ
Solicitors: Fladgate LLP, 16 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5DG,
Accountants & Auditors: PKF Littlejohn LLP, 15 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4HD
Registrar: Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS13 8AE
However, in the interests of observing best practice on corporate governance, the Company intends to comply with the provisions of the Corporate Governance Code published by the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA Corporate Governance Code) insofar as is appropriate having regard to the size and nature of the Company and the size and composition of the Board.
