Update: Add “NOT” - EADS/Astrium “Generally interested” in Acquiring GeoEye or DigitalGlobe

And, just like that a colleague overrides the statement, but not before both GeoEye and DigitalGlobe stock prices jumped!

- Reuters

--- original post 9 am EST ---

Europe’s leading space company, Astrium, is “generally interested” in acquiring one of two U.S. digital imagery providers, GeoEye or DigitalGlobe, and would look carefully at a deal if the price was affordable, a top Astrium executive told Reuters on March 13.

Evert Dudok, chief executive of Astrium Satellites, said the company’s parent, Europe’s EADS, was actively looking for takeover targets in the U.S., and either of the two companies would be a good fit with Astrium, which is ranked No. 3—behind them—in the geospatial information market.

There hasn't been any activity, but the company is looking to expand in the US. Both of the US companies do a lot of work for the US government, so that could be an issue for an overseas buyer. GeoEye has actively sought a buyer in the past, but DigitalGlobe has not made any such activity public, if it has done so.

- Reuters/Aviation Week