Sopra Steria in Negotiations to Acquire Two Specialists in Space and Cybersecurity
Sopra Steria announces exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of Starion and Nexova, two European companies specializing in space engineering and cybersecurity. This operation, conducted on behalf of its subsidiary CS Group, aims to create an entity with approximately 200 million euros in revenue in sovereign digital services.
Strategic Expansion in Space and Cybersecurity Sectors
According to the press release, Starion and Nexova are owned by the same private shareholder and would bring complementary expertise to Sopra Steria in the space sector. The combined entity would reach a critical size of about 200 million euros in revenue and 1,600 employees. Starion, a European specialist in systems engineering for space, defense, and critical infrastructure, operates across the entire lifecycle of space missions, from design to operation. The company is particularly positioned in digital engineering, quantum security, and solutions for the resilience of space systems. Nexova, on the other hand, is a cybersecurity player specializing in the protection of complex environments and critical infrastructures, with a strong foothold in the space sector. The company offers solutions that cover cyber engineering, risk management, managed services, and regulatory compliance.
Employment and Revenue Projections
According to the group, Starion and Nexova employ about 700 staff members across 9 European countries, including Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. The two companies are expected to generate nearly 100 million euros in revenue by 2025. Their main clients include the European Space Agency, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, national space agencies, European defense ministries, as well as major European industrial players in the space sector. According to the press release, the European space market is estimated to be around twenty billion euros in 2025 and is expected to record double-digit annual growth in the coming years. The cybersecurity market, estimated at over ten billion euros in Europe in 2025, is expected to grow between 5% and 10%.
Broadening Sopra Steria's Strategic Positioning
This operation would allow Sopra Steria to broaden its positioning from the integration of critical real-time systems to engineering, digital services, and technological solutions for conducting space missions, the company indicates. The covered areas include earth observation, communication, scientific research, navigation, exploration, and space surveillance. The acquisition project is subject to prior consultation with the representative bodies and obtaining customary regulatory approvals. According to the press release, the operation is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2026. CS Group, a 100% subsidiary of Sopra Steria, currently generates an annual revenue of about 320 million euros and has nearly 2,700 employees. Sopra Steria Group achieved a turnover of 5.8 billion euros in 2024.
