GBAF Logo
Safran said to be studying deal for French sea-drone maker Exail, Bloomberg News reports - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
Finance

Safran said to be studying deal for French sea-drone maker Exail, Bloomberg News reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 26, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: June 26, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Finance Banking Markets

France's Safran in talks to buy Exail Technologies

Overview of the Potential Acquisition Deal

Negotiations and Offer Details

June 26 (Reuters) - French sea drone maker Exail Technologies entered into negotiations on a possible sale of its business to French jet engine maker Safran at €128.5 per share, the companies said on Friday.

Structure of the Proposed Deal

The deal would consist of buying the controlling block of the Gorge family, the companies said, followed by a mandatory public offer.

Market Reaction

Share Price Movement

Exail Technologies shares jumped around 20% to €111.6 in Friday's afternoon trade.

Media Coverage

Initial Report

The news was first reported by Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Barcelona and Piotr Lipinski in Gdansk; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Tomasz Janowski)

Key Takeaways

  • Safran, a major French aerospace and defence group, is considering buying Exail to expand into maritime autonomy and drone systems.
  • Exail, a leader in naval robotics and mine‑countermeasure drones, has seen explosive growth, with orders exceeding €560 million in 2025 and stock up over 700% since mid‑2024.
  • Any deal would align with Safran’s strategic expansion in defence electronics, following prior acquisitions such as CILAS in 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is reportedly considering acquiring Exail Technologies?
French jet engine maker Safran is reportedly studying a potential acquisition of Exail Technologies.
What effect did the acquisition news have on Exail's stock?
Exail shares briefly jumped by nearly 9% and trading was briefly halted following the report.
Have Safran or Exail commented on the acquisition report?
Neither Safran nor Exail immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the report.
Who reported Safran's potential interest in Exail?
Bloomberg News reported Safran's potential interest in acquiring Exail Technologies.

Tags

Related Articles

Image for UK temperature hits 36.9 degrees, breaking June record again

UK temperature hits 36.9 degrees, breaking June record again

Image for Explainer-Volkswagen Law: the unique structure behind Europe's biggest carmaker

Explainer-Volkswagen Law: the unique structure behind Europe's biggest carmaker

Image for Cricket-New Zealand reach 418-7 at lunch as England fight back

Cricket-New Zealand reach 418-7 at lunch as England fight back

Image for Germany's 2027 draft budget is finalized, Handelsblatt reports

Germany's 2027 draft budget is finalized, Handelsblatt reports

Image for Ukraine returns 160 servicemen from Russian captivity, Zelenskiy says

Ukraine returns 160 servicemen from Russian captivity, Zelenskiy says

Image for Kremlin says it will look into 'strange' video alleging army torture

Kremlin says it will look into 'strange' video alleging army torture

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category

Image for Ukraine plans domestic AI computing capacity with Kyivstar
Ukraine plans domestic AI computing capacity with Kyivstar
Image for UK public's inflation expectations continue to ease, Citi/YouGov survey shows
UK public's inflation expectations continue to ease, Citi/YouGov survey shows
Image for Factbox-Which Volkswagen factories in Germany could be shut down?
Factbox-Which Volkswagen factories in Germany could be shut down?
Image for Hungary aims to meet euro entry conditions by around 2030, PM Magyar says
Hungary aims to meet euro entry conditions by around 2030, PM Magyar says
Image for Bosch executive board member Christian Fischer named new CEO
Bosch executive board member Christian Fischer named new CEO
Image for Spain markets watchdog rules out extension for EU crypto licence deadline
Spain markets watchdog rules out extension for EU crypto licence deadline
Image for UK proposes listing rule changes amid Saba tussle with trusts
UK proposes listing rule changes amid Saba tussle with trusts
Image for Kyivstar signs deal to let Ukrainians trade its Nasdaq stock
Kyivstar signs deal to let Ukrainians trade its Nasdaq stock
Image for Countries scale back EU plans to fund cross-country energy grids
Countries scale back EU plans to fund cross-country energy grids
Image for Unilever explores bid for supplements maker Thorne, FT reports
Unilever explores bid for supplements maker Thorne, FT reports
Image for Romanian centre-right parties propose EU lawmaker as PM, seek presidential backing
Romanian centre-right parties propose EU lawmaker as PM, seek presidential backing
Image for Kuok Group eyes €5.3 billion data center investment in Italy
Kuok Group eyes €5.3 billion data center investment in Italy
View All Finance Posts