Google, Inc. is a multinational corporation incorporated in 1998, publicly traded as of 2004, and headquartered in Mountain View, CA as of 2006. Its mission statement is "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful," which it serves through software, cloud computing, search technologies, mapping, and web-based advertising, as well as the purchase of other organizations with capabilities serving Google’s mission. Constantly on the lookout for new technology, Google has acquired numerous companies in its 15-year history.
Skybox Imaging, Inc. is a corporation established in 2009, also headquartered in Mountain View, CA, and dedicated to building satellites, writing code, deploying data centers, and analyzing data, “approaching daily global activity as the world’s largest data science problem.” Among Skybox’s accomplishments are imaging reconnaissance satellites that take and transmit images accurate down to a single meter (3 feet). While the company anticipates launching 24 satellites, it launched its first satellite, SkySat-1, in December 2013. SkySat-1 is a very high resolution small commercial satellite that circles the Earth 15+ times per day and transmits black-and-white 90-second clips allowing analysis of movements on the planet.
With an eye toward improving mapping services, internet access, and disaster relief, Google has announced its plans to purchase Skybox Imaging for $500 million in cash. The acquisition was just announced in early June 2014 and is far from finalized, so Skybox Imaging will continue as is in the near future. After required approvals and closing conditions, the company’s team of 100+ people and its technology will become valuable aspects of Google, Inc.
By Kathy Catanzarite
Source: Kathy Catanzarite - Handelonthelaw.com Staff Writer
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