Syntony GNSS has been sold to Safran SA
Syntony GNSS
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Toulouse, France, Syntony is a technology company specializing in software-defined radio (SDR) technologies for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). The company designs and develops software and hardware solutions, including anti-jamming Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and simulators, aimed at providing accurate and continuous positioning in environments where GNSS signals may be limited, disrupted or unavailable, including underground environments. As a global leader in GNSS solutions for underground environments, Syntony has developed unique expertise enabling reliable positioning in contexts where satellite signals are unavailable. Its solutions are already operational in several large-scale infrastructures internationally, including road and rail tunnels and metropolitan transport networks. Syntony employs approximately 70 people across its sites in Toulouse and Paris.
The Deal
Safran, through its subsidiary Safran Electronics & Defense, has acquired Syntony, strengthening its capabilities in resilient PNT technologies. The transaction enables Safran to offer more integrated, compact and energy-efficient navigation solutions, which are critical for next-generation civil and defense platforms, including drones, aircraft and low-Earth-orbit satellites. The acquisition further reinforces Safran Electronics & Defense’s ability to support its customers in complex navigation environments, whether aeronautical, space, urban or underground, where GNSS signals may be degraded or unavailable. For Syntony, the transaction provides access to Safran’s industrial scale and global footprint, supporting the continued development and deployment of its technologies.
Our Perspective
Charles de Fels, Managing Director in Lincoln’s Paris office, commented, “Lincoln International is pleased to have advised on this transaction, supporting Syntony and its shareholders in joining a leading industrial group. The acquisition reflects the strong strategic fit between Syntony’s advanced PNT technologies and Safran’s positioning in aerospace and defense (A&D). This transaction further reinforces Lincoln International’s expertise in advising technology-driven companies operating in the A&D ecosystem, as well as our ability to execute complex, high-profile transactions at the intersection of A&D and advanced technologies.”
Safran SA
Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense markets. Its mission is to contribute to a safer and more sustainable world, where air transport becomes increasingly environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. With a global footprint, Safran employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and generated revenues of €27.3 billion in 2024. Safran is listed on Euronext Paris and is a member of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices. Safran Electronics & Defense provides its customers with embedded intelligence solutions enabling them to perceive their environment, reduce cognitive load and ensure accurate trajectories, even in critical situations, across all environments, on land, at sea, in the air and in space. The company leverages the expertise of its 19,000 employees to serve both civil and defense markets.
Lincoln International’s deep expertise in technology and aerospace & defense, combined with the team’s guidance throughout the transaction, was instrumental in achieving a successful outcome. Their understanding of our business and their ability to run a rigorous and efficient process allowed us to identify Safran as the right strategic partner to support Syntony’s long-term development and the industrial scaling of our technologies.
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