Pole Star Reaches for Sky with Absolute Merger
October 2011
Pole Star Space Applications Ltd (“Pole Star”), Absolute Software Inc. and Absolute Maritime Tracking Services Inc. (“Absolute”) have completed a merger of the three organizations. The enlarged global business, headquartered in London, will provide satellite-based monitoring and security-related services to more than 35,000 vessels - half the world’s international fleet. Livingstone advised Pole Star on the merger.
Combining Pole Star’s award-winning expertise in systems for commercial fleets, flags and maritime administrations with Absolute’s complementary flag clients and credentials in fisheries management, the enlarged organization – to be re-named Pole Star Group - will offer cutting-edge technology to the maritime industry as a whole.
“Our goal is to be the world’s leading provider of fleet management, ship security and vessel monitoring systems to the maritime industry as a whole. This merger is a big step towards achieving that,” said Colin Hook, the newly appointed CEO of Pole Star Group.
The group will now operate Long-Range Identification & Tracking (LRIT) data centres for 40 maritime administrations including Panama, Singapore, the Marshall Islands, Liberia, Australia and Canada, as well as providing LRIT Conformance Testing and Certification for more than 90 flag nations.
Andrew Isgrig, Managing Director at commented: “This was a complex transaction involving the merger of legal entities in Australia, Hong Kong, Panama, the U.K. and U.S. Livingstone’s own international reach made us a natural partner for Pole Star.”
For further information please contact:
Andrew Isgrig
T: 312 670 5910
E: isgrig@livingstonepartners.com
