Splash247: Kpler secures $1bn-plus investment

Published by Splash247

Trade intelligence and maritime analytics provider Kpler has secured a strategic growth investment of more than $1bn from global investment firm Sixth Street.

The Brussels-headquartered company said the minority equity investment will support expansion into adjacent markets, accelerate product development and strengthen its position as a leading provider of physical trade intelligence.

Under the deal, Kpler’s management team will remain majority owners of the business. Existing investor Insight Partners will retain a stake and roll over part of its investment, while Five Arrows will exit its position.

Founded in 2014, Kpler has grown from an LNG cargo-tracking specialist into one of the shipping industry’s most influential data providers, offering intelligence across energy, dry bulk, maritime transport, power and defence markets. Among the company’s brands is vessel-tracking platform MarineTraffic.

“For more than a decade, Kpler has been on a mission to bring greater transparency to global trade and empower customers to make smarter decisions,” founders François Cazor and Jean Maynier said in a joint statement.

“What sets us apart is our ability to combine proprietary data, advanced technology, AI-powered intelligence and deep market expertise to turn complexity into clarity.”

Sixth Street said Kpler had established itself as the benchmark for global physical trade intelligence.

“Kpler has established itself as the industry standard in global physical trade intelligence, with exceptional accuracy and breadth of coverage,” said Michael McGinn and Henry Davies of Sixth Street Growth.

They added that customers increasingly view Kpler as “the definitive platform for real-time decision making”.

The transaction marks one of the largest investments in a maritime and commodity data company in recent years.