Intuitive Takes Over da Vinci Distribution in Italy, Spain and Portugal

Intuitive, the maker of the da Vinci surgical robot, said on Monday, March 2, that it has completed its acquisition of the da Vinci and Ion distribution business operated by ab medica, Abex, Excelencia Robótica and their affiliates, giving it direct operations in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Malta, San Marino and associated territories. The announcement was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a Form 8-K.

The purchase consisted of an upfront cash payment of about €319 million, subject to certain closing adjustments, Intuitive said in a securities filing before the deal was completed, MedTech Dive reported. The completion announcement did not restate a price.

From distributors to direct sales

Intuitive first announced the agreement in January 2025. At the time, it said it would buy the distributors' Intuitive product-related business, subject to regulatory approvals, and that the transaction would not close until 2026, according to the January 2025 announcement, also filed with the SEC.

The da Vinci and Ion business of the three distributors is now wholly owned by Intuitive and has been folded into its European commercial and marketing organization, led by senior vice president and general manager Dirk Barten, the company said. About 250 employees of the distribution business join Intuitive.

"Our direct presence means we are better positioned to meet the needs of our customers in these geographies," Intuitive chief executive Dave Rosa said in the announcement. Barten said Intuitive was "building on more than two decades of introducing and scaling access to our technology across Southern Europe."

When the deal was announced, ab medica chief executive Francesca Cerruti said the Italian company had introduced robotic-assisted surgery in Italy and Southern Europe more than two decades ago, as one of the first da Vinci distributors in the world.

The installed base

There was a combined installed base of more than 470 da Vinci surgical systems in Italy, Spain and Portugal as of December 31, 2025, Intuitive said. Its Ion endoluminal system, a robotic platform used for lung biopsies, was recently launched in Italy and Spain.

Intuitive said the change lets it support customers in a more agile and integrated way. Its forward-looking statements listed the risk that the benefits of the acquisition may not be fully realized or may take longer than expected, and difficulties in retaining key employees or maintaining relationships with customers and suppliers of the acquired business.

When the plan was announced in January 2025, Gary Guthart, then chief executive, said a direct presence in the five countries would let the company "deepen our understanding of unique customer needs in these countries."