07 September 2023

RA INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC

("RA International", "RA" or the "Company")

Interim Results for the six months to 30 June 2023

RA International Group plc (AIM: RAI), a specialist provider of complex and integrated remote site services to organisations globally, is pleased to announce its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS

·    Revenue of USD 30.4m (H2 22: USD 33.7m, H1 22: USD 29.2m) and underlying EBITDA of USD 0.3m (H2 22: USD 0.6m, H1 22: USD nil), in line with market expectations for the interim period ended 30 June 2023.

·    New contracts, together with uplifts and extensions to existing contracts, totalling USD 18m including two contracts with western Governments clients, highlighting our position as a trusted, global partner offering a comprehensive, flexible, and mission critical support.

·    Order book of USD 71m at 30 June 2023 (H2 22: USD 83m, H1 22: USD 96m), excluding framework agreements, provides good forward visibility with a number of large tenders in progress with western Governments despite the continued low level of tendering of larger, long-term contracts in the Humanitarian sector.

·    Progress made in recovering value from the cancelled Palma Project, with USD 0.6m net income and cash inflow in H1 23 and further recovery from impaired assets expected to be realised in H2 23.

·    Cash of USD 12.2m on 30 June 2023 increased by USD 4.7m from the prior period (H2 22: USD 7.5m, H1 22: USD 9.2m), resulting from USD 6.1m of net cash inflows from operations, offset by USD 1.4m of cash outflows from financing activities.

Soraya Narfeldt, CEO of RA International, commented:

"RA is emerging from two and a half very difficult years. Our focus for FY23 has been to stabilise the financial position and trading performance of the Group. This has seen a marked improvement through cost control, cash collections, unwinding of impaired assets, as well as new and renegotiated contracts addressing inflationary pressures.

Against this backdrop, we remain cautious on our financial performance for the current financial year and continue to expect the business to remain broadly breakeven at the underlying EBITDA level. We will continue to focus on restoring profitability, strengthening our liquidity position, and building our pipeline.

We have a number of tenders in place with Government and Humanitarian clients, including the expected imminent announcement of a framework agreement for HM Government's Conflict, Stability and Security Fund ("CSSF"). While we have no control of the timing or value of future contracts, we can reasonably expect an improvement in contract award run-rate. In the meantime, we are seeing an increase in contract extensions and, in some cases, working with clients on a short-term basis whilst we finalise negotiations on longer-term contracts, establishing a solid foundation for future growth."

Notes to summary table of financial results:

¹ Underlying EBITDA is calculated by adding depreciation, non-underlying items, and share based payment expense to operating profit.

²Net debt represents cash less overdraft balances, term loans and notes outstanding.

Enquiries:

Background to the Company

RA International is a leading provider of services to remote locations. The Company offers its services through three channels: construction, integrated facilities management and supply chain, and services two main client groups: humanitarian and development agencies and western Government organisations focusing on overseas projects. It has a strong customer base, largely comprising UN agencies, UK and US Government departments and global corporations.

The Company provides comprehensive, flexible, mission critical support to its clients enabling them to focus on the delivery of their respective businesses and services. Focusing on integrity and values alongside making on-going investment in its people, locations and operations has over time created a reliable and trusted brand within its sector.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REVIEW

We are making good progress in executing on our priorities

As outlined in our last results in May 2023 we are focused on strengthening the underlying business, focusing on short-term and strategic priorities. Our main objectives are to restore profitability, improve the Company's liquidity position, and to build a stronger pipeline, by leveraging the significant opportunities we have with UK and US Government clients. We are making good progress across all areas.

Financial review - improved trading performance and stabilising financial position

Revenue of USD 30.4m was broadly in line with prior periods (H2 22: USD 33.7m, H1 22: USD 29.2m).

Supply Chain revenue included USD 2.9m relating to a contract for the sale of prefabricated camp facility units held in Turkey. Excluding this transaction, Supply Chain revenue showed modest growth of 6.4% from H2 22. The decrease in Construction revenue is reflective of the successful conclusion of substantial contracts with the UN and Cherokee Nation. IFM revenue grew 11.7% from the prior period due to increased occupancy at our Somalia facility, with revenue expected to grow further in H2.

Revenue by service channel:

Gross margin in H1 23 was 11.8% (H2 22: 6.5%, H1 22: 10.3%) showing an increase period on period as a result of a number of long-term, fixed price contracts being completed in prior periods. These contracts were priced before the recent global inflationary impact. Whilst the effects of inflation are still being felt by the Group, recently priced and awarded contracts are showing improved margins, and the Group has been successful in negotiating increases on a number of long-term contracts to offset the impact of the current economic climate.

In our efforts to restore profitability, strict cost controls are being maintained with administrative costs of USD 5.7m decreasing from the prior period (H2 22: USD 6.2m, H1 22: USD 5.5m). We expect further savings to be realised in H2 23.

Underlying EBITDA was USD 0.3m (H2 22: USD 0.6m, H1 22: nil). The loss before tax for the period reduced to USD 2.5m (H2 22: loss USD 9.6m, H1 22: loss USD 3.4m).

Cash of USD 12.2m at 30 June 2023 shows an increase of USD 4.7m from the prior period (H2 22: USD 7.5m, H1 22: USD 9.2m), resulting from USD 6.1m of net cash inflow from operations (H2 22: USD 0.9m, H1 22: outflow USD 2.5m), offset by USD 1.4m of cash outflows from financing activities. Cash inflows from operations include USD 5.2m from working capital, demonstrating strong collections and unwinding of balances during the first half of the year, as well as a settlement with the Palma Project client which saw a net income and cash inflow of USD 0.6m.

Net assets at 30 June 2023 were USD 22.5m (H2 22: USD 24.9m, H1 22: USD 34.1m), decreasing from 2022-year end in line with the net loss generated in the period.

Basic loss per share was 1.4 cents in the current period (H2 22: Loss 5.6 cents, H1 22: Loss 2.0 cents) and is equal to diluted earnings per share for the current period.

Contract awards, order book and building our pipeline with western Governments

Our position with US and UK Governments goes from strength to strength, with two contracts awarded during the period: a GBP 3.3m contract with the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to provide construction services relating to the refurbishment of the British High Commission in Botswana and three task orders to work at the US Navy's base on Diego Garcia with an aggregate value of USD 8.2 million.

These wins highlight our position as a trusted, global primary contractor to western Government clients, alongside the strength of our offering combining comprehensive, flexible, mission critical support. Revenues from western Governments now accounts for over 50% of the business.

The order book of USD 71m at 30 June 2023, provides good forward visibility (H2 22: USD 83m, H1 22: USD 96m). Although this is lower than reported at the start of the year, we are not overly concerned given the number of tenders for large long-term contracts we are pursuing, the considerable progress we are making with western Government opportunities, and that it excludes framework agreements.

Post period-end events

In our efforts to pursue opportunities to recover value from Mozambique-related impaired assets, we have finalised agreements for the sale of two pockets of assets for a total of USD 5.0m with the cargo due to be shipped in Q4 2023; the proceeds will be realised in H2 23. These transactions reduce the storage cost burden going forward, with the beneficial effect of releasing resources to focus on other opportunities.

Strengthening our relationship with the UK Government, we recently announced a significant strategic contract with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ("FCDO") to deliver ambitions to tackle conflict and instability through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund ("CSSF"). The contract is a two-year global framework agreement relating to Lot 3 of the CSSF fund, which has a total budget of GBP 375m, with an option to extend for a further two twelve-month periods with an additional budget of GBP 187m per annum allocated by the FCDO. Scoring the highest out of 27 awardees we look forward to participating in task orders and future work.

Whilst we cannot predict the value or nature of contracts to RA over the framework agreement period, specific elements of Lot 3 relevant to RA relate to the provision and delivery of operational and technical equipment to organisations in hostile environments in a human rights compliant manner. This includes providing advice on administrative, logistics and human resource reform to improve working practices. The contract builds our relationships with the UK MOD and FCDO further, following our success with the MOD OSCC last year and FCDO this year.

Summary and outlook

We remain committed to building a high-quality and de-risked pipeline through developing our relationships with western Government and Humanitarian clients, either as prime contractor or through a partnership approach where it makes more commercial sense. We have a number of tenders in our pipeline and have made considerable in-roads with US Government agencies in H2 already, which allow us to bid for the long-term contracts for which we are known in the Humanitarian sector. Although we cannot be certain of the number, value or timing of contract awards, we believe our differentiated and integrated offering is both competitive and attractive.

In the meantime, we are benefiting from contract extensions and uplifts, as well as increased occupancy in our permanent facilities. In some cases, we are providing rolling services to clients while long-term contract negotiations continue. The short-term nature of these contracts means the USD 71m order book is not reflective of our current operations.

In addition, we are currently in advanced discussions with parties interested in acquiring further parcels of assets which will lead to a further recovery of value, and which will conclude the sale of all impaired assets held in storage relating to the Palma Project. The sale of these assets will further improve our financial position and release our staff to pursue new business opportunities.

As stated in May 2023, we remain cautious on our financial performance for the current financial year and expect the business to remain broadly breakeven at the underlying EBITDA levels. We maintain our expectation that we will see a stronger run-rate of contact awards and continue to strengthen our relationships with target clients that will support our return to profitability.

Soraya Narfeldt

Chief Executive Officer

06 September 2023

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the six months ended 30 June 2023

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

As at 30 June 2023