Hexagon Buys COWI’s Aerial Mapping Division
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Hexagon Buys COWI’s Aerial Mapping Division

Hexagon, a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions, has announced the signing of an agreement to acquire COWI's aerial mapping business. COWI, based in Denmark, is a leading international consulting group within engineering, economics and environmental sciences with a mapping business that serves as Europe's largest provider of airborne surveying and spatial data processing and a key partner of the HxGN Content Program.

Bringing valuable expertise in capturing and selling Content as a Service (CaaS), COWI’s mapping unit has been delivering HxGN Content Program services in Europe since 2015. With approximately 400 specialists worldwide, the business provides public administrators, government organizations, infrastructure project stakeholders, utility companies and global internet companies with access to the most relevant geospatial data during their planning processes.

"The acquisition of COWI’s mapping business is a logical next step to accelerate and strengthen the HxGN Content Program in Europe," says Hexagon president and CEO Ola Rollén. "Along with the previous acquisitions of North West Geomatics, SigmaSpace, Melown Technologies, and Thermopylae Sciences and Technologies, this acquisition accelerates Hexagon’s mission to provide customers with access to the largest on-demand library of professional-grade and quality controlled geospatial data for applications such as asset management, public safety, utility mapping, insurance claims, and more."

A Different Focus Point

"We are extremely proud of how COWI's mapping business has transformed into a modern, digital mapping business, admired and sought by customers because of our quality work. Today, we hold a leading position in the European market for aerial data capture and geodata digitalization," says Lars-Peter Søbye, president and CEO of COWI.

He continues: "However, our mapping business differs from COWI's focus point, which is to grow its core engineering consultancy. Therefore, we’ve sought to find a new owner that can take our mapping business to the next level. We believe Hexagon is the right match."

COWI’s mapping business will operate within the geospatial content solutions unit of Hexagon’s Geosystems division. The acquisition is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2020. The approximately 400 employees and assets related to COWI’s mapping business will transfer to the Hexagon Group.

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