Extraordinary General Meeting - Addresses and Presentation
30 March 2026
ASX ANNOUNCEMENT – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING PRESENTATIONS
In accordance with the ASX Listing Rules, the Chairman’s and CEO addresses and presentation to the 2026
Extraordinary General Meeting (“EGM”) are appended.
This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Directors.
Kim Larkin
Company Secretary
Ph: 0448 690 364
About Ava Risk Group
Ava Risk Group is a global leader in providing technologies and services to protect critical and high value assets and
infrastructure. It operates three business segments – Detect, Access and Illuminate. The Detect segment manufactures
and markets ‘smart’ fibre optic sensing systems for security and condition monitoring for a range of applications including
perimeters, pipelines, conveyors, power cables and data networks. Access is a specialist in the development, manufacture
and supply of high security biometric readers, security access control and electronic locking products. Illumination
specialises in the development and manufacture of illuminators, ANPR cameras and perimeter detectors. Ava Risk Group
products and services are trusted by some of the most security conscious commercial, industrial, military and government
clients in the world. www.avariskgroup.com
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CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S ADDRESS
I will briefly update shareholders on our current trading performance and operational momentum across the
business.
Across our key geographies, we are seeing continued strengthening in demand for our core sensing technologies.
In APAC, we have been selected to lead what is expected to become Australia’s most comprehensive airport
perimeter detection trial, supporting the Federal Government’s broader security directive. This builds on successful
deployments at Canberra and Cairns airports and positions AVA at the forefront of next-generation airport security.
We are also seeing strong engagement with Telstra, including participation in their national experience hub program
and further deployments of Aura Ai-X across new network segments.
In the Americas, we expect to close out a number of government and energy infrastructure orders in the first half,
with a strong pipeline building into the second half across corrections and federal applications.
In Europe and the Middle East, we continue to see significant opportunities across border protection, energy
infrastructure and airport security, although timing remains influenced by geopolitical conditions.
Across our Access and Illuminate divisions, we are focused on strengthening distribution and product capability:
• Expanding US distribution through dormakaba;
• Advancing our next-generation reader platform, including Apple Wallet integration; and
• Resetting UK distribution in Illuminate to drive improved performance.
Overall, the business is well positioned with:
• A strong global pipeline;
• Expanding applications for Aura Ai-X; and
• Increasing alignment with critical infrastructure and national security priorities.
CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS
Today’s meeting is fundamentally about enabling the next phase of AVA’s growth through our strategic partnership
with Hale Capital.
Hale is a US-based growth equity firm with deep experience in national security, defence technology and critical
infrastructure. They bring not only capital, but also access, credibility and execution capability within the US defence
and intelligence ecosystem.
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WHY HALE
Hale is the right partner for AVA for three key reasons:
First, strategic alignment.
Their investment focus is directly aligned with our core capabilities in fibre optic sensing and infrastructure
protection.
Second, access to the US market.
They provide deep relationships across US defence, intelligence and federal agencies, markets that are otherwise
difficult to access and require credibility and local presence.
Third, scaling capability.
Hale has a strong track record of transforming under-recognised technology platforms into scaled growth businesses.
USE OF FUNDS / STRUCTURE
The proposed $7 million investment is designed to:
• Strengthen our balance sheet;
• Fund US expansion;
• Accelerate product development; and
• Support working capital for larger programs.
Importantly, this is not just capital, it is growth-enabling capital.
For example:
• Approximately $2 million of working capital supports up to ~$20 million of additional sales capacity;
• Enables participation in larger US federal and enterprise opportunities; and
• Supports the establishment of a federal sales capability and SSA structure.
WHY AVA CAN WIN
This is the most important strategic point for shareholders.
The US is the largest and fastest-growing market globally for DAS and critical infrastructure protection.
AVA already has:
• Proven technology;
• High-margin platform (~70% gross margins); and
• Validation in highly secure environments.
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What has been missing is:
• Scale;
• US presence; and
• Federal access.
The Hale partnership directly addresses these gaps.
This creates a clear pathway to:
• Anchor US wins;
• Rapid scaling;
• High-margin recurring revenue; and
• And ultimately, a premium strategic outcome.
GLOBAL STRATEGY
The strategy is simple:
US-led, globally enabled growth.
The US becomes the engine room of Detect, and that capability lifts:
• APAC;
• Middle East; and
• UK / Europe.
This allows us to scale globally without materially increasing cost base outside the US.
TRANSITION TO FORMAL BUSINESS
This strategic partnership is critical to unlocking the Company’s next phase of growth.
END
Global leader in smart security and
sensing technologies
AVA RISK GROUP
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
30 MARCH 2026
AGENDA
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2
Business Update
Strategic Investment from Hale Capital
Resolutions
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BUSINESS UPDATE – KEY GEOGRAPHIES AND SEGMENTS
Confidential
APAC:
• Melbourne airport has selected AVA to lead Australia’s
most comprehensive enhanced perimeter detection
trial, supporting the Department of Home Affairs’ nationwide
perimeter security directive. The paid trial builds on
successful trials at both Canberra and Cairns airports and
will commence in Q4 FY26.
• In March 2026, Ava was included in a panel contract for the
provision of fibre optic sensing solutions suitable for
government perimeter and border security applications.
• Ava was selected as one of eight of Telstra’s experience
hubs to showcase Aura Ai-X across a multi-city national
roadshow. Roadshows were conducted in Perth, Brisbane
and Melbourne in March, with Sydney and Adelaide to
follow in April. Telstra will also deploy Aura Ai-X on a new
generation network segment in regional NSW in Q4 FY26.
AMERICAS:
• Close out of US Government orders expected during
H1 FY26: $0.5m.
• Close out of energy infrastructure orders in North
America (Oil & Gas) and South America (Solar Farm)
expected during H1 FY26: $0.4m.
• Sales opportunity pipeline remains strong with
further opportunities in corrections and US Government
sites expected to close in H2 FY26.
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BUSINESS UPDATE – KEY GEOGRAPHIES AND SEGMENTS
Confidential
MIDDLE EAST & EUROPE:
• Close out of government infrastructure
protection in Azerbaijan expected during H1 FY26:
$0.4m
• Strong sales opportunity pipeline – key orders in
H2 FY26 include Middle East sovereign border
protection ($2.5m) and multiple Middle East energy
infrastructure protection ($3.0m). Projects on track
to proceed though complicated by the current
military conflict in the region.
• Continued focus on airport perimeter protection
in the region building on the success at Dubai and
Morocco Airports. Expected closure during H2
FY26 of an additional opportunity at Istanbul
Airport: $0.4m.
ACCESS AND ILLUMINATE:
• Focus in Access is on growing US distribution via
dormakaba’s network. During March, Access was
invited and participated in dormakaba’s PRO-
Alliance, dormakaba’s largest U.S. based
marketing event showcasing their key products to
their largest customers.
• Development of an updated reader range in Access
which will be demonstrated at ISC West Tradeshow
in the US in March. Development includes
integration with Apple Wallet.
• Appointment of new General Manager in Illuminate
and change of U.K. domestic sales staff to drive
improved U.K. domestic distribution performance.
AVA x HALE PARTNERSHIP
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HALE CAPITAL: STRATEGIC INVESTOR IN NATIONAL SECURITY &
TECHNOLOGY
Investment strategy
• Targets lower-middle market technology companies with strong products but
under-recognised value
• Invests in both public and private companies and special situations
• Provides capital, restructuring expertise and strategic guidance
Track record
• Investments across defence technology, cybersecurity, IoT and
communications
• Portfolio companies have secured major US government and defence
contracts
• Recently closed Fund V, increasing total capital to approximately US$334M
• US-based private growth equity firm
founded in 2007, focused on
technology and national-security
related investments
• Department of Defence (DoD) trusted
investor with deep relationships
across the US defence and
intelligence ecosystem
Hale’s Current & Past Defence & Dual Use Portfolio+
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WHY HALE CAPITAL IS THE RIGHT STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR AVA
1. Deep national security and defence technology focus
• Invest specifically in technology supporting national security, defence and government missions
• Strong alignment with AVA’s fibre optic sensing and critical infrastructure protection technologies
• Access to US defence ecosystem with relationships across US defence, intelligence and federal technology sectors
• Strong experience helping portfolio companies win Department of Defense (DoD) programs
3. Strong network across Government departments and high growth sectors
• Extensive experience supporting companies scaling into the US federal, state and enterprise markets
• Deep relationships across critical infrastructure owners and operators, telecommunications and utilities
3. Experience scaling technology platforms
• Track record of transforming under-recognised technology companies into growth businesses
• Combines capital with operational and strategic guidance
5. Long-term strategic partner
• Evergreen investment structure supports longer investment horizons
• Focus on building durable technology companies rather than short-term exits
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$7.0M INVESTMENT TO DRIVE US-LED GLOBAL GROWTH
Support revenue growth initiatives
Strengthen balance sheet
Accelerate product development
Working capital
• Attract stellar talent and expand GTM initiatives
• Establish federal sales team to target relevant US departments: Department of Homeland Security,
Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation
Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce,
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency & non-classified DoD
• Launch & operationalise Special Security Agreement (SSA) subsidiary for direct access to US
Intelligence Community programs
• ROW: Build sales and technical sales engineering pods for select regional growth
• Ensures financial stability prior to scaling commercial, federal, and SSA activities
• Provides buffer for multi-year federal bid cycles and long lead-time US programs
• Supports improved terms with suppliers and integrators
• Fast-track key R&D activities across Detect (Aura Ai-X)
• Enhancements in analytics, classification, fibre health monitoring & integration frameworks
• Supports higher ASPs, improved recurring revenue, and increased competitiveness in the US
market
• ~$2.0M enables $20M in additional sales capacity, based on: 30% COGS, 120-day cash-
conversion cycle (≈3 turns per year)
• Provides sufficient liquidity to support larger US federal orders, hyperscale pilots & multi-site
deployments
Hale Equity
Converts at a
Significant
Premium to
Share Price
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WHY HALE WITH AVA CAN WIN IN THE US MARKET
Most attractive DAS market US-centric leadership and governance under the Hale partnership
• The US represents the largest and fastest-growing global market for
DAS/PIDS: defence, federal agencies, intel, data centres, telecom,
utilities, mass transit.
• Multiple verticals with multi-billion-dollar annual spend and long-term
funding horizons
Strongest technology positioning in the category
Reinforcing growth engines in the US
• Aura Ai-X is a category-leading fibre-based DAS platform, validated
across the highest-security US environments.
• Proven performance in DoD, NSA/NGA, nuclear, and Tier-1
commercial networks.
• Superior POD, ultra-low NAR, long-range scalability, and analytics
advantage.
• Commercial vertical expansion (Corrections, Energy, Data Centres,
Telecom, Mass Transit).
• Federal sales and large bid team targeting relevant Security Departments
• SSA subsidiary providing direct access to US Intelligence programs and
classified environments.
• New US-based CEO search underway, jointly with Hale.
• US-experienced Board members added to lift credibility with federal
agencies and integrators.
• Establishing a US operational footprint, federal office, and US-national
cleared delivery capability.
High margin, high-credibility platform with structural upside
• Detect is the core value driver of AVA, generating strong gross margins
(~70%) and double-digit EBITDA.
• US scaling is relatively self-funding after 12 months and accelerates rapidly
following anchor wins in Corrections, Data Centres, Telecom, or Federal.
• SSA access adds high-margin, long-duration intel projects with minimal
competitive overlap.
• Hale’s deep experience in scaling GTM initiatives in the industrial security
technologies pairs perfectly with AVA’s proven IP.
• Together, Hale × AVA build a US-led critical-infrastructure security
platform with global TAM and US growth at the core.
• The partnership creates a clear, high-IRR pathway toward category
leadership and a premium strategic exit.
A partnership built to execute and win
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THE HALE AND AVA US STRATEGY ENABLES GLOBAL GROWTH
US-first, globally enabling.
• The Hale × AVA strategy positions the US as the engine room of
Detect. The uplift in leadership, governance, engineering quality, and
GTM discipline strengthens every region.
APAC, MENA, and UK/EU benefit directly from:
• Enhanced global product credibility
• US-led GTM playbooks and bid frameworks
• Unified partner programs
• Improved technical enablement and service capability
With only a light approach to regional headcount expansion, AVA will
be able to establish an on-the-ground presence, unlocking capital-
efficient revenue growth – without diluting US momentum.
Four parallel growth streams: the US
leads, the rest of world follows.
• 1. US: Primary growth engine —
commercial + federal + SSA intel
access.
• 2. APAC, 3. MENA, 4. UK/EU: High-
potential, low-cost regions that scale
alongside the US uplift.
Combined, Hale × AVA creates a globally
consistent Detect business with a US
centre of gravity and worldwide reach.
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