Fincantieri S p A : MSC Group makes major investment in luxury travel market and launches Explora I - first luxury ship from Explora Journeys

MSC GROUP MAKES MAJOR INVESTMENT IN LUXURY TRAVEL MARKET AND

LAUNCHES EXPLORA I - FIRST LUXURY SHIP FROM EXPLORA JOURNEYS

• EXPLORA I delivered by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri with an investment of 500 million euros
• • 
    by MSC Group
  • Order for four luxury ships worth 2.3 billion euros for Explora Journeys' fleet

Monfalcone, Italy, 20 July 2023 -The Cruise Division of MSC Group today celebrated a significant milestone in its continuous growth with the delivery of EXPLORA I to mark the official launch of Explora Journeys, the new luxury travel brand. The investment of the new ship amounted to over 500 million euros.

This is the first of four luxury ships to be built by Fincantieri, one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups based in Italy, in an investment plan worth 2.3 billion euros.

The traditional maritime event was attended by Gianluigi Aponte - Founder and Chairman of the MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago - Executive Chairman of the MSC Group's Cruise Division, the godmother of the ship Zoe Africa Vago, for Fincantieri Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer as well as representatives of MSC's construction team together with managers and workers from the shipyard.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group, said, "Today is a historic day, and represents a decisive step in our growth path, because it marks the entry of the MSC Group into the luxury travel sector. This segment has strong growth prospects, in which we strongly believe and whose standards we aim to redefine, focusing as always on excellence and luxury. EXPLORA I will be of the most beautiful and iconic ambassadors of "Made in Italy" at sea, a testament to Italian craftsmanship all over the world.

"The four Explora Journeys ships will see an investment of 2.3 billion euros, capable of generating an impact on the Italian economy of more than 10 billion euros, thus providing a significant contribution to the country's development prospects. In terms of employment the construction of each single ship requires over seven million working-hours and the average employment is of 2,500 people for two-three years."

Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer, Fincantieri, added, "The Explora class clearly and distinctively marks the development Fincantieri is heading towards. Indeed, entering the luxury cruise market, Explora I represents a project meant to climb several steps in approaching the ship of the future. From the most modern selective catalytic reduction solutions and high-efficiencysystems, we will progress to liquefied natural gas, and to hydrogen in the units to follow. This path shows the Group's evolution from manufacturer to enabler of the energy transition in shipbuilding".

1

EXPLORA I will depart on 1 August for her maiden voyage from Copenhagen in Denmark. The luxury ship will spend several weeks in Northern Europe to offer a range of different itineraries and will then cross the Atlantic Sea and spend the winter in North America and the Caribbean Sea before returning to Europe in Summer 2024 for voyages in the Mediterranean Sea.

EXPLORA II is currently being built at Fincantieri's shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente, Italy and will come into service in August 2024. EXPLORA III will become the first of two LNG-powered vessels to join the Explora Journeys' fleet with the ship due to be delivered in 2026 and EXPLORA IV in 2027.

All of the Explora Journeys vessels will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life, and a comprehensive range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use to further reduce emissions.

ENDS

About the Cruises Division of MSC Group

The Cruises Division of MSC Group, the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage, is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has two distinct brands within its structure - the contemporary and luxury brands.

MSC Cruises, the contemporary brand, is the world's third largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. It is also the fastest growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.

Its fleet comprises 22 modern vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new vessels and is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025.

MSC Cruises offers its guests an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience inspired by the Company's European heritage, where they can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programmes and the very latest user-friendly technology on board. To learn more about contemporary brand's itineraries and experience on board its ships please see here.

Meanwhile the luxury brand, Explora Journeys, is set to start operating in 2023 with a fleet with the latest and most advanced environmental and maritime technologies available. The first of which will have a gross tonnage of 63,900 GT and feature 461 of the largest suites at sea, all with ocean front balconies or terraces. These luxury ships will introduce to the luxury segment a broad range of new guest experiences and other activities as well as generous ratios of public spaces, in addition to showcasing highly innovative design. For further information about Explora Journeys please see here.

MSC has long been committed to environmental stewardship with a long-term goal to achieve net zero emissions for its operations by 2050. The Company is also a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies, with the objective to support their accelerated development and availability industry-wide. To learn more about the Company's environmental commitment please see here.

Finally, to learn more about the MSC Foundation, MSC Group's own vehicle to lead, focus and advance its conservation, humanitarian and cultural commitments please see here.

About Fincantieri

2

Fincantieri is one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups, the only one active in all high-tech marine industry sectors. It is leader in the construction and transformation of cruise, naval and oil & gas and wind offshore vessels, as well as in the production of systems and component equipment, after-sales services and marine interiors solutions. Thanks to the expertise developed in the management of complex projects, the Group boasts first-class references in infrastructures, and is a reference player in digital technologies and cybersecurity, electronics and advanced systems.

With over 230 years of history and more than 7,000 ships built, Fincantieri maintains its know-how, expertise and management centres in Italy, here employing 10,000 workers and creating around 90,000 jobs, which double worldwide thanks to a production network of 18 shipyards operating in four continents and with almost 21,000 employees.

www.fincantieri.com

FINCANTIERI

Press Office	Investor Relations
Tel. [phone]	Tel. [phone]
[e-mail]	[e-mail]

3