S&P Global agreed to buy ORBCOMM’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) data services business. This AIS business is a leading provider of satellite data services that track and monitor vessels, enhancing maritime visibility and delivering critical insights that support business intelligence and decision-making for government and commercial clients worldwide.
Since 2004, ORBCOMM’s AIS vessel tracking technology has integrated high-quality, proprietary data with satellite and terrestrial coverage. Its AIS solutions are utilized for diverse applications such as supply chain visibility, maritime safety, surveillance and security, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, and more. ORBCOMM’s AIS data services will be integrated within the S&P Global Market Intelligence division of S&P Global.
S&P Global also revealed it has agreed to take a strategic equity position in ORBCOMM. And the two organizations are going to create a strategic alliance to develop a range of differentiated supply chain data and insight offerings, underscoring its commitment to further investing in this sector while helping customers navigate the complex maritime environment.
This strategic alliance builds on the complementary strengths of S&P Global and ORBCOMM in global trade and logistics ecosystems. S&P Global’s equity investment in ORBCOMM further emphasizes its commitment to this strategic alliance.
This acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of certain regulatory approvals. And it is expected to close during 2025 and financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Advisors: DLA Piper served as legal advisor to S&P Global. And PJT Partners and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett served as financial and legal advisors, respectively, to ORBCOMM.
KEY QUOTES:
“With the uncertainties surrounding global markets and supply chains, this strategic acquisition underscores our commitment to investing in differentiated data and solutions that can help our customers navigate the volatility. ORBCOMM’s AIS data services business offers cutting-edge technology and coverage that strengthens our energy transition and maritime supply chain offering, giving us ample opportunity to invest in new product innovations.”
Whit McGraw, Head of Risk & Valuations Services at S&P Global Market Intelligence
“We’re excited to join forces with S&P Global to unlock new intelligence from our deep data resources and deliver new levels of intelligence to global supply chain stakeholders. Our AIS team looks forward to scaling their solutions with S&P Global, while we continue to sharpen our focus on ground-breaking smart supply chain visibility technology that serves the world’s intermodal shipping ecosystem.”
Sameer Agrawal, CEO of ORBCOMM
