Release date: 16 March 2020

JFD acquires Fathom Systems to expand product capability offering

JFD, the world leading underwater capability provider serving the commercial and defence diving markets and part of James Fisher and Sons plc, today announced the acquisition of Fathom Systems, a leading provider of diver communications, gas analysis, diver monitoring and integrated diving control systems for Diving Support Vessels (DSVs).

The acquisition significantly enhances JFD’s ambition to provide differentiated equipment which supports the safest diving operations in the most extreme environments. This deal will expand JFD’s portfolio of innovative diving solutions for the oil and gas, defence, renewables, decommissioning and aquaculture market sectors, providing greater value and a more diverse range of products to meet specific customers’ needs.

In addition to providing the latest diver communications, gas analysis, diver monitoring and integrated diving control systems for DSVs operating in the offshore oil and gas industry, Scotland-based Fathom Systems also offers a more diversified product portfolio supported by its expertise in electronics, software, diving physics and digital communications including HD digital video systems, ROV control systems, intervention tooling and ROV gyrocompass systems. This deal will ensure JFD’s latest generation of products benefit from Fathom Systems’ enhanced expertise in these specialist areas, with the latest innovations integrated into JFD’s new solutions.

Giovanni Corbetta, Managing Director, JFD, said:

“At JFD, we are passionate about providing our customers with the highest quality products through continual innovation and we are fully committed to developing the expertise necessary to improve our product offering. The next generation of diving solutions will require more embedded electronics and software solutions, which provide greater value and enhanced solutions to our customer’s most pressing challenges. This deal offers the opportunity for JFD to generate new growth beyond the core oil and gas subsea market and into wider customer segments, broadening the scope of our offering and our ability to increase the safety of divers working in the most extreme environments.”

Gareth Kerr, Managing Director, Fathom Systems commented:

“JFD’s established reputation as a world leader in the underwater field offers greater resources to further develop and exploit the latest innovations from Fathom Systems. We are really excited that our revolutionary products will soon be making a significant positive impact on customers in wider markets beyond the core oil and gas sector. Fathom Systems has been involved in the latest generation of new-build DSV projects and we have now extended our focus to further support surface-supply diving and to bring our technology to the Submarine Rescue market. JFD sets the industry standard for quality and reliability in these areas and with the strength of the Fathom brand added to the Group portfolio we expect to see significant opportunities for state-of-the-art integrated solutions. We are both proud and pleased to be working with and being a part of this global company going forward.”

JFD operates at the forefront of innovation and by using its market knowledge, geographical reach and long experience, the company continually looks to set new standards in the delivery of comprehensive diving systems, technologies and training. This acquisition cements the role of JFD in ensuring that products brought to the market are of the highest quality, safety and reliability while continuing to break new ground in technological achievement in the pursuit of best in class offerings to the market.

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