ECA Group, iXblue to Merge for Unmanned Maritime, Space and Photonics Development

March 14, 2022
ECA Group and iXblue have announced entering exclusive negotiations to bring the two French companies together. Carried out by Group Gorge, the operation aims to create a “European high-tech industrial champion” in the fields of maritime, inertial navigation, space and photonics.
The companies were already long-standing partners, benefiting from technological and commercial synergies. WIth the merger, the group aims to provide high performance solutions for critical missions in harsh environments.
ECA Group is one of the leaders in the field of autonomous robotics and integrated systems, particularly in the naval sector. It provides customers with technologically advanced solutions in the field of naval, land and air drones. iXblue delivers advanced navigation, photonics and maritime autonomy solutions, including components to systems.
“Our two companies share the same culture of innovation, agility and entrepreneurship that are at the heart of each of our DNAs and for which we are both recognized and valued,” said Fabien Napolitano, president and CEO of iXblue. “The new synergies created will not only ensure we keep this DNA but will also strengthen our capacity for innovation by leveraging our complementary expertise. This will allow us to continue to push the technological frontiers and support our customers in their most demanding challenges.”
“The joining of our two companies, which will employ over 1,500 people, offers great growth opportunities,” said Dominique Giannoni, CEO of ECA Group. “Once combined, our various technological expertise will greatly help strengthen our leadership positions in our markets, while our complementary geographical footprint will enable us to better serve our customers by being closer to them.”
For more details on ECA Group, visit its website here. To learn more about iXblue, visit its website here.