Defence, Nuburu signs agreement to acquire 70 per cent of Tekne

Focus and investment in Italia in the military defence sector, willingness to concretely finance the Italian company, ensure that research and employment levels are centred in our country.

Nine months to arrive at a strong industrial plan projected for the medium to long term: on the one hand Tekne, a company based in Ortona and considered a strategic national asset due to its production of special vehicles, military and electronic systems, in the hands of the Rusconi Clerici family; on the other hand the American giant Nuburu, listed on the Nyse, specialised in the development of high-power blue lasers and evolved into a platform for defence and security systems.

In the middle was the Italia government, which last August had said no by decree to the acquisition of 70% of the share capital by the US partner, with the aim of protecting national security, maintaining control over strategic assets, and protecting made-in-Italy technological know-how. A veto that could collapse after the guarantees put in black and white by the company, which comply with the requirements demanded by Palazzo Chigi, which will now have 45 days to approve the new corporate structure.

Alessandro Zamboni, Executive Chairman and Co-Ceo of Nuburu, explains: 'Italia is at the centre of our interests: here we have already invested in Lyocon, which operates in the laser technology sector, and the software house Orbit. In Ortona we have planned investments for a further 15 million, as well as a working capital line for 25 million'.

Nuburu's entry into Tekne is worth a total of EUR 36.4 million. The Americans had provided an advance on the operation: about 16.7 million in shareholder loans, 13 of which were disbursed last January and another 3.7 million in March, when the agreement was formalised. To these must be added about EUR 5 million that will come from destocking operations carried out by the American shareholders.