Beam Global entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ScoutDI for about $24 million, creating a vertically integrated drone platform for industrial, commercial, government, and defense markets. Beam Global will pay the purchase price through a combination of cash and Beam Global common stock.
Beam said it has secured commitments for non-dilutive financing sufficient to fund the cash portion of the transaction, subject to customary requirements.
ScoutDI’s sellers will also be eligible for earn-out payments in 2026 and 2027 if drone and software revenues exceed 150% and 160% of 2025 revenue, respectively.
Those earn-outs may also be paid through a combination of cash and Beam common stock.
The transaction is expected to close in November 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
ScoutDI develops drone systems and AI-enhanced software used to inspect confined spaces and other hard-to-access industrial assets.
Its customers span maritime, oil and gas, energy, testing, inspection, and certification markets.
ScoutDI has customers in 30 countries, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Oceaneering, and Ørsted.
Its technology is also used in the field by Shell, Petrobras, and Equinor, while customers also include inspection and certification companies such as DEKRA, Applus+, Kiwa, and Apave.
Following the acquisition, Beam intends to manufacture ScoutDI’s drone systems for the U.S. market at its existing U.S. facilities.
Beam also plans to serve European and Middle Eastern markets through its European manufacturing footprint, supplemented by ScoutDI’s existing sales, engineering, and manufacturing operations.
ScoutDI’s main shareholders, DNV, Equinor Ventures, and Klaveness, will receive Beam stock as part of the transaction.
Nicolai Husteli will continue leading ScoutDI within Beam after the deal closes.
Beam said the acquisition will extend its existing platform across energy storage, electrification, smart infrastructure, batteries, and remote charging into drone hardware and software.
The company already produces batteries for drones, robots, submersibles, and other devices.
Beam believes this battery capability could differentiate the combined company by giving it control over an important part of the drone supply chain.
The company also plans to combine ScoutDI’s drone systems with its BeamFlight technology, which is designed to enable remote drone charging without construction or access to grid infrastructure.
ScoutDI’s Scout Portal software also generates recurring subscription revenue.
The company’s Scout 137 Gen3 drone system was the first European drone system, and one of the first four systems overall, to receive Conditional Approval from the U.S. Department of Defense.
That approval allows the Scout 137 Gen3 to be marketed in the U.S., subject to ongoing compliance with ScoutDI’s U.S. onshoring plan and continued government vetting.
Beam intends to manufacture the Scout 137 in the U.S. after closing.
The company believes that domestic manufacturing and a documented U.S. supply chain could position the system for additional government and defense procurement opportunities, subject to applicable requirements including the American Security Drone Act and Blue UAS program.
Beam also sees ScoutDI’s technology as a dual-use platform with applications beyond industrial inspection.
Potential use cases include inspections in buildings, elevator shafts, mines, tunnels, and sewers, as well as public safety, security, and defense applications where drones can enter potentially hazardous environments before personnel.
Beam plans to market ScoutDI products across its existing customer base, which includes oil and gas companies, industrial groups, mining and agriculture companies, utilities, law enforcement agencies, border patrol, government agencies, and U.S. and European defense organizations.
The company cited estimates placing the global drone market at approximately $96.4 billion in 2026, with the market projected to more than double by 2033.
Beam believes the acquisition creates a platform capable of participating across industrial inspection, defense, public safety, energy, and autonomous drone applications.
KEY QUOTES:
“The ScoutDI acquisition will be a highly advantageous evolution of our current business, as ScoutDI already has an established global drone and software business with impressive margins and recurring revenues, serving Fortune Global 500 and other significant companies. Furthermore, the ScoutDI technology lends itself to many other applications and opportunities for both enterprise and government customers, which we intend to vigorously pursue through our global network. I am confident that both the existing and future opportunities will create significant new growth avenues for us.”
Desmond Wheatley, Chairman and CEO of Beam Global
“We currently produce batteries for drones, robots, submersibles and other similar devices which we believe creates a significant differentiator and allows Beam to become what may be the only vertically integrated drone manufacturer in the U.S. that also produces its own batteries. Our patented BeamFlight technology, which enables remote recharging of drones without construction or grid infrastructure, adds a further layer of differentiation.”
Desmond Wheatley, Chairman and CEO of Beam Global
“Joining Beam is an exciting next step for ScoutDI. Our customers already rely on our products to inspect confined spaces that are dangerous and costly to enter, and Beam brings the U.S. manufacturing, global footprint, and energy expertise to scale that much faster. Manufacturing in the U.S. is the key to the U.S. commercial, government and defense markets, and together we can take our technology to a far larger customer base.”
Nicolai Husteli, CEO of ScoutDI
