Sopra Steria Negotiates Acquisition of Starion and Nexova to Strengthen CS Group
Sopra Steria announces it is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Starion and Nexova for the benefit of its subsidiary CS Group. The operation aims to create a group with approximately 200 million euros in revenue in the space and cybersecurity sectors, according to the company.
Company Profiles and Market Positioning
The two companies involved, owned by the same private shareholder, employ about 700 staff across nine European countries, including Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Starion is positioned as a specialist in systems engineering for space, defense, and critical infrastructure, covering the entire lifecycle of space missions. The company highlights Starion's expertise particularly in digital engineering and quantum security. Nexova, on the other hand, is described as a cybersecurity player specializing in the protection of complex environments and critical infrastructures, with a strong foothold in the space sector. According to the press release, the two entities are expected to generate nearly 100 million euros in revenue by 2025.
Market Outlook and Clientele
According to Sopra Steria, the European space market is estimated to be worth around twenty billion euros in 2025 and is expected to experience double-digit annual growth in the coming years. The cybersecurity market, valued at over ten billion euros in Europe in 2025, is anticipated to grow between 5% and 10%, as per the group. These dynamics are driven by rising geopolitical tensions and the evolution of threats, the press release notes. Major clients of Starion and Nexova include the European Space Agency, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, national space agencies, European defense ministries, and major industrial players in the space sector.
Strategic Impact of the Acquisition
This acquisition would enable Sopra Steria to reach a critical size of about 200 million euros in revenue and 1,600 employees in the space sector, the company indicates. The group specifies that the operation aims to broaden its end-to-end positioning, from the integration of real-time critical systems to engineering and digital services for space mission management. The acquisition project is subject to prior consultation with the representative bodies and obtaining usual regulatory approvals. According to the press release, the transaction is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2026. CS Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sopra Steria, currently generates an annual revenue of around 320 million euros and employs nearly 2,700 staff.
