Kpler Acquires MarineTraffic and FleetMon for maritime sector expansion
https://www.marinetraffic.com/blog/kple ... expansion/
“Since its creation, Kpler has been focused on tracking cargoes, not vessels. We believe the time has come to marry commodity and maritime intelligence into one single platform. This will lead to improvements in the data and services we provide and drive further innovation in the maritime sector, by incorporating the excellent work of both MarineTraffic and FleetMon.” – François Cazor, CEO, Kpler.
“I am very proud of what MarineTraffic has achieved over the years and really excited for what we can further achieve as part of Kpler, alongside the FleetMon team. I am confident that the integration of our products and organisational cultures will lead us to new frontiers, ultimately benefiting our customers and our community. The increasingly connected maritime world needs more digital tools and better analytics and we'll continue innovating in that direction.” – Demitris Memos, CEO, MarineTraffic.
“Creating transparency for the maritime world has driven our work for over a decade now. To combine the experience and excellence of the Kpler , MarineTraffic and the FleetMon teams will push the journey of digitalization for maritime transport and supply chains. Let's stay active, stay connected - and never stop scaling" – Lars Brandstäter, CEO, FleetMon.
https://www.kpler.com/blog/kpler-acquir ... -expansion
Kpler Buys MarineTraffic and FleetMon, Consolidating AIS Tracking
MarineTraffic got its start as a community-driven project among academic researchers and grew into the most prominent portal for AIS data, mapping and visualization. Its public-facing portal has become a go-to reference tool for analysts, journalists and researchers, and it is the top provider of ship tracking data.
FleetMon is based in Rostock, Germany, and has been in operation since 2007. It positions itself as a vessel database, complete with photos, ship particulars, news items and live tracking. It has about half a million users globally.
Kpler's acquisitions mark a rare burst of M&A activity in the AIS tracking space. A competing firm, VesselTracker, was purchased by Verisk-owned Wood Mackenzie in 2019. Several independent firms remain, including Pole Star and VesselFinder, along with raw AIS data providers like Orbcomm.
https://maritime-executive.com/article/ ... s-tracking
Kpler buys ship tracking data providers MarineTraffic and FleetMon
The acquired businesses are expected to help Kpler enhance product, data and service quality for its maritime clients.
https://www.ship-technology.com/news/kp ... -fleetmon/
https://gcaptain.com/kpler-acquires-mar ... d-fleetmon
https://container-news.com/kpler-secure ... d-fleetmon
https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2023/0 ... d-by-kpler
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Other forum comments about it…
https://theferryforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=11214
Kpler Buys MarineTraffic and FleetMon, Consolidating AIS Tracking
Kpler acquires Spire Maritime to enhance maritime data and analytics capabilities
NOVEMBER 13, 2024
MarineTraffic aka Kpler acquires Spire Maritime to enhance maritime data and analytics capabilities
https://www.kpler.com/blog/kpler-acquir ... pabilities
Brussels, November 13, 2024 – Kpler, a leading data and analytics platform for trade intelligence, today announced its acquisition of Spire Maritime, a prominent provider of satellite-powered data for real-time global vessel tracking. This strategic move aims to enhance Kpler’s maritime coverage and deliver unmatched insights into global vessel movements and shipping logistics.
Mark Cunningham, CEO of Kpler, emphasized the impact of this acquisition: “By acquiring Spire Maritime, we will materially improve our satellite AIS offering which together with our comprehensive terrestrial AIS network, significantly enhances real-time visibility and analytics for the maritime and commodity markets. This will provide our clients with a clearer view of developments across maritime and commodity markets, to support better decision-making in a globally interconnected economy.”
By integrating Spire Maritime’s technology and AIS feed, Kpler will expand its data reach, offering comprehensive visibility across open oceans. This acquisition further strengthens Kpler’s commitment to delivering superior real-time data and analytics to its clients, supporting informed, data-driven decision-making across the global supply chain.
François Cazor, Executive Chairman of Kpler, highlighted the financial and strategic benefits, stating: “This acquisition not only provides us with high-quality data that enhances our ability to deliver maximum value to our clients, but it will also enable us to significantly expand our maritime business. We remain focused on reaching $1 billion of ARR in the coming years, which will involve us expanding into new products and verticals, as well as pursuing strategic mergers and acquisitions.”
Peter Platzer, CEO of Spire Global, commented on the transaction's broader impact, adding: “This transaction positions our maritime business as part of a global organization focused on the digitalization of the maritime industry, which we expect will benefit both our customers and team members.”
Platzer added: “This move further focuses Spire Global on our core mission: helping humanity tackle climate change and global security challenges — and now, we are even better equipped with the resources, technology, and experience to serve our customers, whether through our advanced data solutions or empowering them with our sophisticated space services offering.”
The acquisition of Spire Maritime marks another significant step in Kpler's strategic path, further enhancing its position as a global leader in the trade intelligence markets.
The transaction is expected to close by the first quarter of 2025, subject to satisfying customary closing conditions.
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Spire Global offloads commercial maritime business for $241 million
Jason Rainbow
November 13, 2024
https://spacenews.com/spire-global-offl ... 1-million/
TAMPA, Fla. — Satellite operator Spire Global is selling its commercial ship-tracking business to an analytics provider to invest in other data markets and its hosted payload services.
Vienna, Virginia-based Spire Global said Nov. 13 it has reached a $241 million deal to sell maritime customer contracts to Kpler of Belgium, which would also get exclusive rights to sell ship-tracking data from the operator’s satellites to commercial entities and governments worldwide.
Spire Global would retain its satellites, technology, and other infrastructure following the transaction, which includes $7.5 million for services over 12 months, as well as its current maritime customers in the U.S. government.
The proceeds would help Spire Global pay off all its outstanding debt, around $100 million worth, giving the company more financial firepower for near-term growth opportunities across its weather, aviation, radio frequency geolocation, and space services markets.
“We are now even better equipped with the resources, technology and experience to serve governments and commercial clients to fulfill their missions,” Spire Global CEO Peter Platzer said in a statement.
Kpler CEO Mark Cunningham said the acquisition would materially improve its maritime analytics capabilities, which use space and terrestrial sensors to track AIS — Automatic Identification Systems — transponders required on all passenger ships and most ocean-going vessels above a certain tonnage.
“This will provide our clients with a clearer view of developments across maritime and commodity markets, to support better decision-making in a globally interconnected economy,” Cunningham said.
The companies expect to complete the transaction early next year.
The sale comes months after Spire Global agreed to pay a fee for a waiver to avoid default under its credit facility with Blue Torch Capital.
Spire Global is also continuing to review its accounting practices and procedures surrounding the timing of bookings under its space services business, where the operator hosts customer payloads on satellites built in-house.
The accounting review has delayed the submission of a 10-Q regulatory filing detailing finances for the three months to June 30, prompting a warning from the NYSE in August that Spire Global risked being removed from the stock exchange.
The NYSE has given Spire Global until Feb. 19 to submit the regulatory filing — and a 10-Q filing for the third quarter of 2023 that is also late.
Spire Global said in a recent update that it is continuing to progress through its accounting review while disclosing $40 million of new contracts during the three months to Sept. 10, marking a quarterly record for the company.
The operator started trading on NYSE in August 2021, joining a wave of space companies seeking more capital through mergers with publicly listed shell companies known as SPACs, or special purpose acquisition companies.
Spire Global shares closed up more than 14% to $13.45 Nov. 13 following the sale announcement.
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https://gcaptain.com/kpler-acquires-spi ... -tracking/
https://maritime-executive.com/article/ ... -analytics
https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/ ... 241m-deal/
MarineTraffic aka Kpler acquires Spire Maritime to enhance maritime data and analytics capabilities
https://www.kpler.com/blog/kpler-acquir ... pabilities
Brussels, November 13, 2024 – Kpler, a leading data and analytics platform for trade intelligence, today announced its acquisition of Spire Maritime, a prominent provider of satellite-powered data for real-time global vessel tracking. This strategic move aims to enhance Kpler’s maritime coverage and deliver unmatched insights into global vessel movements and shipping logistics.
Mark Cunningham, CEO of Kpler, emphasized the impact of this acquisition: “By acquiring Spire Maritime, we will materially improve our satellite AIS offering which together with our comprehensive terrestrial AIS network, significantly enhances real-time visibility and analytics for the maritime and commodity markets. This will provide our clients with a clearer view of developments across maritime and commodity markets, to support better decision-making in a globally interconnected economy.”
By integrating Spire Maritime’s technology and AIS feed, Kpler will expand its data reach, offering comprehensive visibility across open oceans. This acquisition further strengthens Kpler’s commitment to delivering superior real-time data and analytics to its clients, supporting informed, data-driven decision-making across the global supply chain.
François Cazor, Executive Chairman of Kpler, highlighted the financial and strategic benefits, stating: “This acquisition not only provides us with high-quality data that enhances our ability to deliver maximum value to our clients, but it will also enable us to significantly expand our maritime business. We remain focused on reaching $1 billion of ARR in the coming years, which will involve us expanding into new products and verticals, as well as pursuing strategic mergers and acquisitions.”
Peter Platzer, CEO of Spire Global, commented on the transaction's broader impact, adding: “This transaction positions our maritime business as part of a global organization focused on the digitalization of the maritime industry, which we expect will benefit both our customers and team members.”
Platzer added: “This move further focuses Spire Global on our core mission: helping humanity tackle climate change and global security challenges — and now, we are even better equipped with the resources, technology, and experience to serve our customers, whether through our advanced data solutions or empowering them with our sophisticated space services offering.”
The acquisition of Spire Maritime marks another significant step in Kpler's strategic path, further enhancing its position as a global leader in the trade intelligence markets.
The transaction is expected to close by the first quarter of 2025, subject to satisfying customary closing conditions.
——————————————————————————————————
Spire Global offloads commercial maritime business for $241 million
Jason Rainbow
November 13, 2024
https://spacenews.com/spire-global-offl ... 1-million/
TAMPA, Fla. — Satellite operator Spire Global is selling its commercial ship-tracking business to an analytics provider to invest in other data markets and its hosted payload services.
Vienna, Virginia-based Spire Global said Nov. 13 it has reached a $241 million deal to sell maritime customer contracts to Kpler of Belgium, which would also get exclusive rights to sell ship-tracking data from the operator’s satellites to commercial entities and governments worldwide.
Spire Global would retain its satellites, technology, and other infrastructure following the transaction, which includes $7.5 million for services over 12 months, as well as its current maritime customers in the U.S. government.
The proceeds would help Spire Global pay off all its outstanding debt, around $100 million worth, giving the company more financial firepower for near-term growth opportunities across its weather, aviation, radio frequency geolocation, and space services markets.
“We are now even better equipped with the resources, technology and experience to serve governments and commercial clients to fulfill their missions,” Spire Global CEO Peter Platzer said in a statement.
Kpler CEO Mark Cunningham said the acquisition would materially improve its maritime analytics capabilities, which use space and terrestrial sensors to track AIS — Automatic Identification Systems — transponders required on all passenger ships and most ocean-going vessels above a certain tonnage.
“This will provide our clients with a clearer view of developments across maritime and commodity markets, to support better decision-making in a globally interconnected economy,” Cunningham said.
The companies expect to complete the transaction early next year.
The sale comes months after Spire Global agreed to pay a fee for a waiver to avoid default under its credit facility with Blue Torch Capital.
Spire Global is also continuing to review its accounting practices and procedures surrounding the timing of bookings under its space services business, where the operator hosts customer payloads on satellites built in-house.
The accounting review has delayed the submission of a 10-Q regulatory filing detailing finances for the three months to June 30, prompting a warning from the NYSE in August that Spire Global risked being removed from the stock exchange.
The NYSE has given Spire Global until Feb. 19 to submit the regulatory filing — and a 10-Q filing for the third quarter of 2023 that is also late.
Spire Global said in a recent update that it is continuing to progress through its accounting review while disclosing $40 million of new contracts during the three months to Sept. 10, marking a quarterly record for the company.
The operator started trading on NYSE in August 2021, joining a wave of space companies seeking more capital through mergers with publicly listed shell companies known as SPACs, or special purpose acquisition companies.
Spire Global shares closed up more than 14% to $13.45 Nov. 13 following the sale announcement.
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https://gcaptain.com/kpler-acquires-spi ... -tracking/
https://maritime-executive.com/article/ ... -analytics
https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/ ... 241m-deal/