FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 5 February 2026
 London, UK

Defence Holdings PLC

("Defence Holdings" or the "Company")

Appointment of Chief Executive Officer, Update on ATM Facility and PDMR

Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT), the UK-listed defence technology group, announces the appointment of Andrew Roughan as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective 30 March 2026.

As previously announced on 24 December 2025, the Board conducted a comprehensive and targeted search process for a Chief Executive Officer. Following completion of contractual arrangements and customary regulatory and background checks, Andrew Roughan will formally assume the role at the end of Q1 2026.

Background and experience

Andrew Roughan is a senior executive with extensive experience across the UK Government's science and technology priority agenda, including deep experience in defence, national security, and critical national infrastructure.

Since 2018, he has served as Chief Executive Officer of Plexal, a UK-based innovation company working closely with government, defence and national security stakeholders. In this role, he led multi-disciplinary teams delivering technology and innovation programmes within regulated and security-sensitive environments and oversaw the organisation's growth and operational development.

Andrew was part of the founding team of Here East, a major technology and innovation campus developed as part of the UK Government's Olympic legacy programme, where he held senior operational and commercial leadership responsibilities.

Earlier in his career, Andrew held senior management roles within the telecoms and data centre sectors, including positions at Cable & Wireless and international data centre operators, with responsibilities spanning commercial strategy, operations and large-scale infrastructure delivery.

There are no other matters to be disclosed in respect of Andrew Roughan pursuant to UK Listing Rule 6.4.8R.

Strategic relevance of appointment

Andrew Roughan's experience reinforces Defence Holdings' leadership capacity as the Company enters a phase focused on programme delivery and scale. His background leading government-aligned technology organisations through periods of growth and organisational scaling, and delivering complex initiatives within regulated and security-sensitive environments, aligns closely with the operational and commercial demands of Defence Holdings' strategy.

The Board believes Andrew's leadership, institutional relationships and experience negotiating within complex stakeholder environments will strengthen the Company's ability to engage with government, defence and industry partners and to execute its strategy with discipline and credibility.

Board comment

Andy McCartney, Chief Technology Officer of Defence Holdings, commented:

"The Board is delighted to appoint Andrew as Chief Executive Officer. He brings a rare combination of defence credibility, operational leadership and proven commercial execution across government-aligned technology environments.

Andrew's experience leading complex organisations through delivery and scale will be instrumental as Defence Holdings enters its next phase of execution and growth, and we look forward to working closely with him."

Grant of Warrants

Andrew Roughan has entered into a service agreement with the Company. In addition to his remuneration package, and as approved by the Board, the Company will grant warrants over a total of 142,907,576 ordinary shares, representing 6 per cent of the Company's issued share capital at the time the warrant terms were agreed between the Company and Andrew Roughan.

The warrants have been allocated in three tranches on the following terms:

●    71,453,788 warrants (representing 3 per cent of the issued share capital), exercisable at 1.38 pence per ordinary share;

●    35,726,894 warrants (representing 1.5 per cent of the issued share capital), exercisable at 3.45 pence per ordinary share; and

●    35,726,894 warrants (representing 1.5 per cent of the issued share capital), exercisable at 6.9 pence per ordinary share.

Update on ATM facility

Further to the announcement dated 18 December 2025, Fortified Securities has successfully raised additional gross proceeds of £92,800 (the "ATM Proceeds") for the period ending 16 January 2026. Settlement of the ATM Proceeds has now been completed.

Following these ATM-related sales, Fortified Securities' shareholding has decreased from 116,000,000 shares (4.78% of the issued share capital) to 111,500,000 shares (4.59% of the issued share capital).

Taking into account the ATM Proceeds announced on 31 October 2025, 14 November 2025, 18 December 2025 and those announced today, the Company has now raised total gross proceeds of £713,117.49 under the ATM facility.