Thornton-based Space Imaging is expected to be sold to Dulles, Va.-based Orbimage Inc.
Space Imaging announced this year that it was for sale. Space Imaging spokesman Gary Napier on Wednesday only reiterated that the company is working with Banc of America Securities on a sale. He also said no sale has been completed.
But rumors from the Orbimage workforce circulated that Orbimage would purchase Space Imaging.
The company’s future has been uncertain since September 2004, when the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency awarded a four-year satellite contract called NextView to Orbimage.
Space Imaging’s Ikonos satellite is expected to deteriorate around 2007.
Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Co. together own about 76 percent of Space Imaging, which has about 180 employees.
Companies suggested as possible buyers included Orbimage and Longmont-based DigitalGlobe.
“There is some consolidation in that industry, and we have been fortunate to have two leaders in the country – DigitalGlobe and Space Imaging,” said Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. “But we have always suspected that … that market was going to require some consolidation and one of those two would be purchased.”
He said that regardless, the talent is here to do the work.
“We’d be eager to chat with the new buyers,” Clark said.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at kyamanouchi@denverpost.com or 303-820-1488.
