Fast-growing cargo data analyst Kpler has struck its latest deal to buy ship-tracking companies MarineTraffic and FleetMon.
The cargo specialist has now completed five acquisitions in the last 18 months after securing more than $200m in funding from private equity firms.
The latest deal allows Kpler to expand into vessel-tracking from its original focus on cargoes, said chief executive officer François Cazor.
“We believe the time has come to marry commodity and maritime intelligence into one single platform,” he said.
“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.”
The company said there was growing demand for digital tools and “intensifying global challenges” across the maritime supply chain.
The largest ever sanctions regime against a major economy, Russia, includes restrictions on shipping and increased work for compliance teams tracking cargoes and ships.
The push to decarbonise the sector has also increased demand for voyage analysis and fleet integration to cut emissions.
Kpler’s platform currently has features including trade flows, a vessel and cargo-tracking facility, and assessments of commodity inventories.
With the two acquisitions, Brussels-headquartered Kpler will employ more than 500 people across the world.
The deal follows FleetMon’s earlier acquisition by Athens-based MarineTraffic, which were both founded in 2007.
Previous deals have seen Kpler buy rival ClipperData and JBC Energy. It moved into the European power markets with the acquisition of France-based data and analytics company COR-e.
