Yesterday, DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) announced that a major $200 million 12-month cash receipts hurdle has been met, triggering the vesting of over 44 million performance options and putting the business on track for another record year.
What did DroneShield report?
- 44,455,000 performance options vested, following $200 million in cash receipts over a rolling 12-month period
- Milestone achievement verified by independent auditor HLB Mann Judd
- New tranches of performance options to be issued, linked to future hurdles of $300m, $400m, and $500m in annual revenues or cash receipts
- Fully paid ordinary shares now stand at 919,264,707, with potential fully diluted shares reaching 930,753,068
- Company says it is on track for another record financial year
What else do investors need to know?
DroneShield's latest announcement centres on its employee incentive scheme, aimed at aligning the interests of staff and shareholders as the business delivers significant growth. The next round of options will only vest if the company surpasses more ambitious sales or cash receipt targets, at $300 million, $400 million, and $500 million.
Importantly, recently achieved revenues won't count towards the new performance hurdles, with vesting tied to sustained future performance. Only employees (not non-executive directors) are eligible, and any options for the CEO or MD will require shareholder approval.
What did DroneShield management say?
Oleg Vornik, CEO and Managing Director, said:
Performance Options align the DroneShield team and its investors, enabling DroneShield to attract the best talent and incentivise performance, whilst reducing the cash burden on the Company as it continues to rapidly grow. We are pleased to reach this $200 million cash receipts 12-month milestone, and look forward to maximising performance for the remainder of this record year, and building a strong foundation for 2026 and beyond.
What's next for DroneShield?
Looking ahead, DroneShield will implement its next wave of performance incentives, now pegged to even higher revenue and cash receipt targets. The company aims to not only continue its strong sales trajectory but also lay the groundwork for long-term growth, with future vesting rules designed to reward both immediate and lasting performance.
Management stressed that these changes are intended to foster a culture of long-term commitment, innovation, and alignment with shareholders as the business matures in its global counterdrone and electronic warfare market.
DroneShield share price snapshot
DroneShield shares have spared 338% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 9% over the same period.
