REG - Cohort PLC - AGM Statement

CohortAnnouncement

Thu 07:00

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RNS Number : 7169A  Cohort PLC  25 September 2025

 One Waterside Drive

 Arlington Business Park

 Reading

 Berks

 RG7 4SW

 25 September 2025

 

COHORT PLC

("Cohort" or "the Group")

 

AGM UPDATE ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Cohort, the AIM listed independent technology group, is today holding its
Annual General Meeting (AGM) and issues the following comments on current
trading and outlook.

 

Cohort achieved record financial results in the year ended 30 April 2025
("FY2025"), with strong performances in revenue, adjusted operating profit,
order intake, adjusted EPS, and net funds. The year ended with a cash position
that exceeded expectations and a record order book of £616.4m, extending out
to the mid-2030s, with strong revenue cover for the current financial year
ending 30 April 2026 ("FY2026").

 

Our expectations for growth in FY2026 remain unchanged, with a weighting to
the second half as in previous years. Trading performance in the first half is
expected to be slightly behind the strong comparative period last year. In the
first quarter's trading, a strong maiden contribution from EM Solutions was
offset by a reduction in MCL's activity, which was at a record level last
year, and a weaker mix at both ELAC and SEA including the sale of the latter's
transport business in May 2025.

 

Following contract wins since the start of FY2026 of over £60m, the order
book on 20 September 2025 stood at over £590m, representing consensus FY2026
revenue cover of nearly 90%.

 

We are optimistic about our prospects for further significant new orders,
given demand for our products and services from both domestic and export
customers.

 

As previously disclosed in the FY2025 Final Results announcement, given
planned capital expenditure including the completion of ELAC SONAR's new
facility in Kiel in the first half and the unwinding of the strong year end
working capital position, primarily customer advances, we expect the Group to
report net debt in the region of £30m at the half year.  We expect to close
FY2026 with net funds in the range of £10m to £15m as previously reported.

 

The Group's strategy continues to be to grow both organically and through
acquisitions. The Group's acquisition of EM Solutions for an enterprise value
of £75m completed on 31 January 2025, and we have seen a positive
contribution in the first four months of FY2026. Geopolitical tensions are
driving increased investment in defence, as highlighted by the UK Strategic
Defence Review in June, and those are expected to persist, creating the
conditions for organic growth. Our business model is also well adapted to
generating value from carefully targeted acquisitions, and we continue to seek
opportunities for these in the UK and elsewhere.

 

The interim results for the six months ending 31 October 2025 are due to be
released in December 2025.

 

ENDS

 

For further information please contact:

 Cohort plc                                                                      0118 909 0390
 Andy Thomis, Chief Executive
 Simon Walther, Finance Director

 Raquel McGrath, Company Secretary

 Kellie Young, Group Head of Investor Communications and Events

 Investec Bank Plc (Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser, and Corporate Broker)  020 7597 5970
 Carlton Nelson, Christopher Baird, Charlotte Young

 MHP                                                                             07817 458804
 Reg Hoare, Ollie Hoare, Hugo Harris                                             cohort@mhpgroup.com (mailto:cohort@mhpgroup.com)

 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

Cohort plc (www.cohortplc.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___http:/www.cohortplc.com/___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzoyMTc3NDU5NzEyMzY4MjYwNWYzZjRmYjJiNDMxZDI2Yzo2OmZkM2U6Yjk2NDk3YzhlNGE4ZWY4MzRjY2U0MTkyZWMyZjdiMjU3YzlhOTBkOTVmNGFlNDUxZmM5ZGE0NjNkNWJhNjFhZTpwOkY6Tg)
) is the parent company of seven innovative, agile and responsive businesses
based in the UK, Australia, Germany and Portugal, providing a wide range
of services and products for domestic and export customers in defence and
related markets.

 

Cohort (AIM: CHRT) was admitted to London's Alternative Investment Market in
March 2006. It has headquarters in Reading, Berkshire and employs in total
over 1,500 core staff there and at its other operating company sites across
the UK, Australia Germany, and Portugal.

 

The group is split into two segments - Communications and Intelligence, and
Sensors and Effectors:

 

Communications and Intelligence

 

·      EID designs and manufactures advanced communications systems for
naval and military customers. Cohort acquired a majority stake in June
2016. www.eid.pt
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r06/___http:/www.eid.pt___.ZXV3MjpuZXh0MTU6YzpvOmM5YzY5ZTQxODhkNzYwOTA4MWNmMTgzNzA0NmQ3OTUwOjc6YWJhZDo0YmVjOTQ3ZTY5MGY1OTBjZTFkMmYyMjU1ZGY5NGQ1MDBiM2ZhODU5NmQ5ZWVhMzc5MTU2MGRjYzc2MjE1MDIwOnA6RjpU)

·      EM Solutions designs, assembles, tests, and supports satellite
communications on-the-move terminals for defence and government customers. It
also provides high-end broadband radio transceivers and other RF Subsystems
such as low noise receivers and solid-state high-power transmitters for
defence and commercial customers. Acquired by Cohort in January 2025.
www.emsolutions.com.au
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r06/___http:/www.emsolutions.com.au___.ZXV3MjpuZXh0MTU6YzpvOmM5YzY5ZTQxODhkNzYwOTA4MWNmMTgzNzA0NmQ3OTUwOjc6NGQwNzo0YWNiYmEyMjhiZDcwYzJiMzViNzk5NThhMGVkMjU1NDRiYmIxMTFmYTc4YzI0NDcwZmRkMWZmMDkyNTE2OTYzOnA6RjpU)
 

·      MASS is a specialist data technology company serving the defence
and security markets, focused on electronic warfare, digital services, and
training support. Acquired by Cohort in August 2006. www.mass.co.uk
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___http:/www.mass.co.uk/___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzoyMTc3NDU5NzEyMzY4MjYwNWYzZjRmYjJiNDMxZDI2Yzo2OmMxYzc6NDBjMTYyYjVkODZlZTQxZmYyNTViMWU4MWRmNGRiOTc2ZjRmYjRmNGI5ZmZkY2QzMjExNTZiZTJhNjE4YTFhYjpwOkY6Tg)

·      MCL designs, sources, and supports advanced electronic and
surveillance technology for UK end users including the MOD and other
government agencies. MCL has been part of the Group since July
2014. www.marlboroughcomms.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___http:/www.marlboroughcomms.com/___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzoyMTc3NDU5NzEyMzY4MjYwNWYzZjRmYjJiNDMxZDI2Yzo2OjExN2E6ZDBlNTU0OTkxZTViMjRkMzhjYWEwOGFhMTAzOWRjMmU5ZTMxMjdjMTQ1NjhlZjAzNGU2YTkzZTc1ZmY3MDNlNDpwOkY6Tg)

 

Sensors and Effectors

 

·      Chess Dynamics offers surveillance, tracking and fire-control
systems to the defence and security markets. Chess has been part of the Group
since December 2018. www.chess-dynamics.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___http:/www.chess-dynamics.com/___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzoyMTc3NDU5NzEyMzY4MjYwNWYzZjRmYjJiNDMxZDI2Yzo2OmNmYjg6ZTQ3NGI5ZTkyNGE0MjgyYzMzNWIzNjA4ZjQwMGI5ZDQxNDk3YmRlZmQwMzM1NDIwMzU5N2ExMWFkZWRiNzMyMTpwOkY6Tg)

·      ELAC SONAR supplies advanced sonar systems and underwater
communications to global customers in the naval marketplace.  Acquired by
Cohort in December 2020.  www.elac-sonar.de
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___http:/www.elac-sonar.de/___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzoyMTc3NDU5NzEyMzY4MjYwNWYzZjRmYjJiNDMxZDI2Yzo2Ojg2ZDY6NTI0OGI5ODJhZGE1M2E5OTIyZDk5M2Q3ZTllZDRiNGNjNDhhMGQ1OTg0MTkzYzc2MDVhYzRiMWVjMGUwYTdiNTpwOkY6Tg)
 

·      SEA delivers and supports technology-based products for the
defence and transport markets alongside specialist research and training
services. Acquired by Cohort in October 2007. www.sea.co.uk
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___http:/www.sea.co.uk/___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzoyMTc3NDU5NzEyMzY4MjYwNWYzZjRmYjJiNDMxZDI2Yzo2OmFjNjE6ZWMyM2MwYWMzMDg4ODlmOWE5ODk0ZjkzMzU1NjBkM2E0MjcwNDU2Mjg0MzVkZGQxZDJkZTJkNDM4NDk4NDhhNjpwOkY6Tg)

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