Fincantieri Executes Four Acquisitions and Invests €600 Million in Underwater Sector

TRIESTE – Fincantieri is further investing in the underwater sector with a four-acquisition plan valued at approximately €600 million. The objective is to establish an international leader in the underwater domain by integrating marine drones, underwater telecommunications, geosciences, and offshore services.

 

 

The operation involves Next Geosolutions, WSense, Graal Tech, and Defcomm, enabling the Group to advance the growth targets set in its 2026–2030 Business Plan by four years.

The plan will be primarily financed through the €500 million raised via the capital increase completed in February 2026, supplemented by additional Group resources. This will have no impact on the net financial position guidance relative to EBITDA for 2026 and will improve the targets projected for 2028 and 2030. The anticipated initial outlay is approximately €600 million.

With this move, Fincantieri brings together eight companies specialized in the underwater sector – including WASS, Remazel, IDS, and the submarine business – to create a vertically integrated operator capable of covering the entire value chain, from hardware and software to communications, drones, offshore services, and critical infrastructure protection. The new division will employ approximately 1,500 highly qualified professionals with operations in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Arab Emirates.

 

Economically, the underwater segment is expected to reach €1.1 billion in pro-forma revenue and €220 million in EBITDA as early as 2026, hitting its 2030 targets four years ahead of schedule. The acquisitions will also contribute over €60 million in additional net profit by 2026. At the group level, EBITDA is projected to grow by 13% and net profit by 40% compared to the business plan targets, while earnings per share (EPS) will increase by 30% by 2028 and 20% by 2030. 

Growth prospects remain strong in the following years. Underwater sector revenue is expected to reach €1.4 billion by 2028 and €1.8 billion by 2030, with the EBITDA margin projected to rise from 19.2% in 2026 to 23% in 2030. The contribution of these acquisitions to the group’s net profit will reach approximately €130 million by 2030.

 

 

“Today’s operation represents a historic industrial transformation for Fincantieri, creating an international leader in the underwater domain through complete integration across the value chain of technologies, skills, and operational capabilities,” stated CEO and General Manager Pierroberto Folgiero. “These acquisitions allow us to accelerate the implementation of our Business Plan, significantly strengthening our profitability and capitalizing on a rapidly expanding market, where the dual-use component is set to become increasingly significant. We have also chosen to ensure industrial continuity for the acquired companies by retaining their existing management teams, as we believe that expertise and execution are essential elements of the Group’s growth.”

 

The most significant acquisition is Next Geosolutions, a company listed on Euronext Growth Milan and active in marine surveys and offshore geosciences. Fincantieri will acquire 52.6% of the capital based on a total valuation of €780 million, subsequently launching a tender offer for the remaining shares. In 2025, Next Geosolutions recorded revenue of approximately €300 million and will become the cornerstone of the Group’s offshore services offering, covering everything from surveys to the inspection, maintenance, and repair of underwater infrastructure.

 

The other transactions involve WSense, specialized in underwater communications and the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT); Graal Tech, a developer of autonomous underwater drones; and Defcomm, active in autonomous surface drones. All companies will retain their founders and key managers within both the equity structure and management to ensure industrial continuity and accelerate the development of technological and commercial synergies.

According to Fincantieri, the underwater market—driven by defense, critical infrastructure protection, and offshore services—will reach a cumulative value of approximately €155 billion in the 2026–2030 period. In particular, the non-conventional underwater segment is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30%, offering the Group an opportunity to expand in a sector characterized by strong technological innovation and growing demand from both civil and military sectors.