Australian listed drone technology company RocketDNA has secured commitments for an approximately A$2.23 million strategic placement to support expansion. Announced on October 8, 2026, the financing attracted major shareholder Daniel Narayan and new and existing investors. Proceeds will support autonomous drone deployments and software development for mining and critical infrastructure.
Placement Terms and Share Pricing
RocketDNA, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange as RKT, plans to issue 103,520,582 fully paid ordinary shares at A$0.0215 each. The shares will be issued under its existing placement capacity pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 7.1A. They will rank equally with the company's existing ordinary shares.
The issue price represents a 2.4% premium to RocketDNA's last traded price of A$0.021 on October 6. It also matches the volume-weighted average share price over the preceding 10-day and 15-day periods. RocketDNA stated that no material costs or commissions were paid in connection with the placement.
Investor Support and Ownership
Narayan participated through Sadietilly Capital Pty Ltd and is expected to own 19.5% of RocketDNA's issued capital after the placement. He was joined by other sophisticated and professional investors, including new and existing backers. The company described their participation as support for its autonomous drone strategy in industrial markets.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Clark said the capital would strengthen RocketDNA's balance sheet as it addresses its order pipeline. He linked the proceeds to deploying xBot hardware and investing in software functionality and integrations. Increased product utilization and customer requests for additional capabilities are influencing those investments, according to the company.
Planned Use of Proceeds
RocketDNA will prioritize the build-out and deployment of its xBot drone-in-a-box hardware using the placement proceeds. These systems support autonomous drone operations where industrial customers require repeatable access to aerial data. Meeting demand from its current order pipeline is a central goal of the funding.
Proceeds will also support software engineering, cybersecurity accreditation, and working capital, as outlined in the announcement. These investments are intended to reinforce the technical infrastructure that supports deployed hardware and the data it collects. RocketDNA did not specify how much capital would be allocated to each spending category.
Drone Products and Geographic Reach
RocketDNA provides drone-based geospatial data and artificial intelligence services to the mining, agriculture, and critical asset sectors. Its xBot product range includes SurveyBot, InspectBot, and PatrolBot, designed for surveying, inspection, and patrol operations. Drone data is delivered through its SiteTube platform, powered by the SiteDrive application programming interface.
The company operates across Australia, Africa, Europe, and North America, serving industrial clients in multiple regions. It also reports beyond-visual-line-of-sight accreditation across several jurisdictions, supporting certain remote and autonomous flight operations. New funding is intended to support additional deployments alongside ongoing software improvements and integrations.
Completion Timetable
RocketDNA's indicative timetable scheduled settlement of placement funds for October 9, 2026. The new shares were scheduled to be issued on October 12, alongside an Appendix 2A filing and cleansing notice. The company said the board authorized the announcement, which was intended to lift its trading halt.
The fundraising is directed toward execution of an existing pipeline rather than the launch of an entirely new business line. Its structure brings additional equity capital into the company without material placement fees or commissions, according to RocketDNA. The scheduled share issuance is a further step in completing the transaction.
RocketDNA's A$2.23 million placement directs new capital toward autonomous drone hardware, software, cybersecurity work, and operations. The transaction also increases a major shareholder's ownership stake while drawing commitments from additional investors. Its impact will depend on the company's ability to deliver equipment and software against customer demand.