Fincantieri Acquires Four Companies to Expand Underwater Drone Business, Positioning Itself as an International Underwater Champion

In a strategic move to expand its presence in the rapidly growing underwater drone market, Fincantieri has announced the acquisition of four companies: Next Geosolutions, WSense, Graal Tech, and Defcomm. These transactions are expected to significantly enhance the Group’s capabilities and revenue growth in the underwater segment.

Next Geosolutions is a leading international player in marine survey and geoscience services, as well as offshore construction support services. The company operates in multiple sectors, including renewable energy, oil & gas, and subsea cable projects. 1

Fincantieri’s acquisition of Next Geosolutions will bring together the expertise of two organizations that share a common goal: providing innovative solutions to complex underwater challenges.

WSense is an Italian deep-tech scale-up specializing in underwater communications and the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT). The company has developed proprietary technologies that enable secure data transmission between underwater devices, even in complex marine environments. 2

Fincantieri’s acquisition of WSense will integrate its cutting-edge technology into the Group’s existing product portfolio.

Graal Tech is another Italian scale-up established as a spin-off of the University of Genoa. The company specializes in designing and developing modular and customizable underwater robotic technologies (AUV/ROV) as well as small and medium-sized unmanned vehicles. 3

Fincantieri’s acquisition of Graal Tech will bring expertise in unmanned surface vehicle technology to the Group.

Defcomm is an Italian start-up active in the design and construction of unmanned surface vehicles with advanced autonomous navigation capabilities. The company has already successfully tested its units in various operational environments. 4

Fincantieri’s acquisition of Defcomm will bring expertise in unmanned surface vehicle technology to the Group, enabling the company to provide a comprehensive range of services to customers.

The acquisitions are expected to significantly enhance Fincantieri’s presence in the underwater market, driving growth and profitability for the Group. The Underwater segment is expected to generate €1.1 billion in revenues, €220 million in EBITDA, and contribute more than €60 million to the group’s net profit in 2026.

The acquisition of Next Geosolutions will bring together eight centers of excellence, leaders in their respective fields, capable of orchestrating integrated end-to-end solutions across the entire value chain in a synergistic manner. The company will work closely with Fincantieri’s existing underwater platforms to provide comprehensive services to customers.

WSense’s proprietary technologies will enable secure data transmission between underwater devices, while Graal Tech’s products will be used in various commercial, defense, and dual-use applications. Defcomm’s expertise in unmanned surface vehicles will complement Fincantieri’s existing capabilities.

The acquisitions are expected to accelerate the execution of Fincantieri’s Business Plan, driving growth and profitability for the Group. The Underwater segment is expected to grow at a significant pace, driven by increasing demand for underwater solutions in various industries.

The underwater market has gained an increasing strategic relevance in recent years, driven by the development of underlying markets as well as by the growing instability in the geopolitical landscape. The seabed concentrates significant resources, such as crude oil, natural gas, and rare earth elements, as well as new opportunities for sustainable food production (e.g., aquaculture).

The strategic importance of infrastructure supporting maritime transport (e.g. ports), Oil & Gas (e.g., regasification terminals, pipelines) and Offshore wind, and the growing need to protect these assets are driving demand for underwater solutions.

Global data traffic depends on subsea communication cables: 1.5 mln km of cables currently in operation, enabling 99% of global internet traffic. The critical role of subsea power cables for electricity transmission across countries and continental regions is also significant.

The acquisitions will bring together under a single platform approximately 1,500 highly qualified professionals across Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, and the UAE, integrating all enabling technologies and distinctive capabilities in both conventional and unconventional underwater activities.

Fincantieri’s acquisition of these four companies positions the Group as an international Underwater champion, driving growth and profitability for the business. The company is expected to become a leading player worldwide, expanding its presence across specialized services in marine survey and geoscience and marine construction support, proprietary unmanned underwater and surface drone technologies, and wireless communication systems for the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT).

The acquisition is financed through the proceeds of the euro 500 million accelerated bookbuilding capital increase successfully completed last February, supported by favorable market conditions. The transaction will not have any impact on the 2026 Net Debt / EBITDA guidance.

The structure of all transactions provides for the continuity of founding shareholders and key managers in the medium term, ensuring industrial continuity and enhancing distinctive capabilities. The acquisitions are highly accretive to Fincantieri’s financial profile, delivering EPS growth of 30% by 2028 and 20% by 2030.

Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Fincantieri, commented: “The acquisitions announced today mark a historic transformation for Fincantieri, creating an international champion in the Underwater domain. These acquisitions allow us to accelerate the execution of our Business Plan, significantly strengthening profitability while expanding our presence in a fast-growing market.”

Fincantieri’s expansion into the underwater market is driven by its strategic roadmap, building on the outstanding success of previous acquisitions. The reference underwater market, including submarines, sensors and effectors, as well as unconventional underwater solutions, is expected to grow significantly over the 2026-2030 period.

The acquisition of Next Geosolutions expands Fincantieri’s presence across commercial, defense, and dual-use underwater segments, enabling cross-fertilization of technologies across the Group. The company operates in multiple sectors, including renewable energy, oil & gas, and subsea cable projects.

WSense’s proprietary technology enables secure data transmission between underwater devices, while Graal Tech’s products will be used in various commercial, defense, and dual-use applications. Defcomm’s expertise in unmanned surface vehicles complements Fincantieri’s existing capabilities.

The acquisitions are expected to accelerate the execution of Fincantieri’s Business Plan, driving growth and profitability for the Group. The Underwater segment is expected to grow at a significant pace, driven by increasing demand for underwater solutions in various industries.

Fincantieri has positioned itself as an international Underwater champion, bringing together under a single platform all relevant technologies and competencies. The company will work synergistically with its existing underwater platforms to provide comprehensive services to customers.

The acquisition is a strategic move to expand Fincantieri’s presence in the rapidly growing underwater drone market, positioning the Group as an international Underwater champion.

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